Real reason Donald Trump and Elon Musk are arguing online as he makes bombshell claims about Jeffrey Epstein files

As Donald Trump and ex-pal Elon Musk continue to hurl slanderous insults and damning allegations at one another over the internet, many spectators have been left with the same question - why are the two even bickering?

Well, by the sounds of things, there are several reasons why the political pair have seemingly turned on one another in recent weeks.

Some suggestions centre around hotly-debated policies, whilst others claim their new feud is entirely egotistical.

Before we get into the seemingly endless possibilities, however, let's remind ourselves what the pair have said about one another.

A very dramatic recap:

Relations between the previously close pair took a turn for the worse when Musk announced his departure from his Department of Government Efficiency role last month.

Musk left his DOGE role in May (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

He initially wrote on Twitter at the time (21 May): "As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.

"The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."

Days later, however, Musk began making a series of somewhat pointed remarks about the president's financial policies.

Firstly, he criticised Trump's backing of a 'big beautiful bill' that would increase the deficit by nearly $3 trillion by 2034.

He told CBS of the decision: "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing."

And on Tuesday, Musk brought the bill back up again, writing on X: "I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.

"This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."

Trump subsequently responded to Musk's message with some harsh words of his own, telling attendees during a meeting in the Oval Office yesterday (5 Jun): "Look, you know, I've always liked Elon, and it's always very surprised you saw the words he had for me, the words and he hasn't said anything about me."

The president continued: "But I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here."

Musk hit back online in response: "False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!"

Hours later, the South African accused Trump of being affiliating with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, tweeting: "Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!"

It's important to note, however, that if Trump is named in the files - which are investigative materials compiled by federal agencies in relation to Epstein's crimes - it does not imply wrongdoing on the president's part

Musk mentioned Epstein's crimes in relation to Trump (Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)

Trump, 78, later responded by evading the mention of Epstein entirely, writing on Truth Social: "Elon was 'wearing thin', I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!"

As we say, however, since their 'break up' and subsequent spat hit headlines across the globe, followers of the fiasco have been wondering what could possibly have ignited such tensions.

And by the sounds of things, there are numerous places to start looking for an answer.

1) Tax credit cut on electric vehicles

As reported by The Independent, the most likely reason for Musk's stark opposition of Trump's hefty bill is because it plans to eradicate an important consumer tax credit for the owners of electric vehicles, which is worth as much as $7,500.

And who owns one of the most successful EV automotive firms in the world? Oh, yeah. Elon Musk.

His firm, Tesla, is said to have dropped an almighty $240,000 lobbying to maintain the credit as of late April, with the CEO himself reportedly having pleaded with the US president for its retention.

Musk is the CEO of Tesla (Nora Tam/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Adding to Musk's woes on the matter, Tesla sales plummeted 46.1% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time in 2024 - awkward!

2) DOGE dissatisfaction

According to Axios, prior to his resignation, Musk has reportedly asked to remain in his powerful position as a special government employee, despite his limited 130 day term in the position coming to an end.

However, an agreement couldn't be reached.

There is speculation some members of Trump's administration hadn't been thrilled with the aggressive approach that the tech boss' team had taken in reducing federal spending - by, for example, axing thousands of government jobs willy nilly.

Back in March, the president alluded to these concerns by promising his Cabinet secretaries that the DOGE would be 'very precise' is cutting expenditure going forward, and vowing to use a 'scalpel' rather than the 'hatchet' to determine 'who will remain, and who will go' going forward.

3) A pulled NASA nominee

Trump had to reassure Cabinet officials DOGE would take a less aggressive approach (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

In the days after Musk departed from his political role, Trump suddenly removed the billionaire's close friend and ally Jared Isaacman from his position as the nominee to next head up NASA.

Addressing the decision, the right-wing leader claimed it was made following the discovery that Isaacman had made sizeable donations to the Democratic Party in the past.

As Axios points out, however, it may well have been director of the Office of Presidential Personnel, Sergio Gor, that was whispering demands in Trump's ear, with the officially famously having clashed with Musk on several occasions.

According to The Independent, rumours have since been circling that Gor arranged the move as an 'out-the-door "f*** you" to Musk', but of course, we can't be sure of that.

So, could Musk's outburst be the result of a businessman convinced he's been wronged?

I guess we'll have to wait and find out.