President Trump sharply criticized Elon Musk for pushing a third-party political movement, calling the Tesla CEO a “train wreck” and warning it would lead to “complete and total disruption and chaos.” Trump’s comments came via a Truth Social post where he expressed frustration with Musk’s recent political maneuvers and apparent shift in policy stance.
Trump said Musk had gone “completely off the rails” over the last five weeks and accused him of undermining conservative efforts by promoting a third-party option ahead of the 2024 election. “The one thing third parties are good for is the creation of complete and total disruption and chaos,” Trump wrote. He added that Musk’s political involvement had become increasingly erratic.
Tensions escalated after Musk criticized the Trump-backed legislative package that eliminated electric vehicle tax credits and green energy mandates. Though Musk supported ending the mandates, he attacked the bill for being loaded with what he called “pork.” Trump, in turn, defended the bill as necessary for restoring economic strength and cutting wasteful subsidies.
Trump also took aim at Musk’s connection to Jared Isaacman, a billionaire ally whose nomination to lead NASA was reportedly dropped after concerns about conflicts of interest. Isaacman, a SpaceX partner, had supported environmental regulations and had not contributed to Republican causes, raising questions about his appointment to a key federal position.
The clash signals a widening divide between Trump and Musk, two influential figures with strong followings. Trump’s warning against third-party disruption underscores his focus on maintaining unity within the Republican base and avoiding a 2024 scenario that could fracture conservative support.
