From Partners to Rivals: Trump Calls Out Musk Over DOGE and Crypto Ties

Trump Turns on Musk

President Donald Trump publicly criticized Elon Musk on Monday, marking a sharp shift in their once collaborative relationship. In a Truth Social post, Trump raised concerns about Musk’s leadership and accused him of relying heavily on government subsidies. He suggested that DOGE—the agency the two helped start—should investigate Musk’s businesses more seriously.

Trump didn't mince words. He asserted that Musk had benefited from more government funding than any other person in history. Trump claimed Musk might be compelled to shut down his businesses and move back to South Africa in the absence of these subsidies. Although the tweet sparked a heated online debate, neither the White House nor Musk's team have issued an official remark as of yet.

Source: X

The Rise and Fall of DOGE

DOGE was launched in early 2025. It was meant to simplify federal systems. Trump and Musk presented it as a tech-forward initiative, even naming it after Dogecoin, a popular meme crypto. It once stood as a symbol of Trump’s interest in modernizing government through bold partnerships. But things have changed fast.

Musk started pulling away from the administration weeks ago. He issued a brief apology after their initial split but returned with strong criticism soon after. He used X to attack Trump’s major policy push—One Big Beautiful Bill. The bill includes large tax cuts, immigration changes, and measures supportive of crypto. Musk and other critics say the bill could increase national debt by more than $3.3 trillion.

Musk wrote late at night that imposing the debt ceiling is the only way to curb government waste. The timing made his objective obvious, even though he didn't specifically mention Trump. His message widened the gap between them, demonstrating how widening it is.

Trump's criticism of Musk's government backing provoked a response. Tesla and SpaceX, two of Musk's businesses, are seen by many as essential to the nation. They depend on government assistance and contracts. Trump's remarks, according to critics, disregard the strategic importance of these businesses, particularly in space exploration and clean energy.

Trump has long been involved in crypto. His connections range from NFT projects run by his family to partnerships with major crypto firms like Hut 8 and World Liberty Financial. Tesla and X also have major investments in space. These ties create an unusual overlap between Trump’s financial interests and Musk’s companies.

Source: X

No Signs of Backing Down

Trump did not directly respond to a recent question about whether he would abandon his cryptocurrency agreements. Rather, he cited his contribution to the industry's growth. He asserted that the U.S. cryptocurrency market would not have flourished without him. He further implied that without his backing, China would have taken the lead in the space race.

Now, Trump and Musk's conflict transcends politics. It affects global competition, technology, and money. Both individuals have strong ties to cryptocurrency and other developing fields, so their effects might go beyond news stories. Both sides' upcoming actions will probably attract even more attention.