WASHINGTON, May 29 (WSH) — The once-close alliance between Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be unraveling, with insiders pointing to the revival of Musk’s Mars colonization efforts as a key factor in their growing rift.
At a recent SpaceX event ahead of the next Starship launch, Musk openly criticized Trump’s $3.8 trillion government spending plan, calling it “a direct threat to innovation” and claiming it undermines progress made by his DOGE team in cutting federal costs. He also voiced frustration over the politicization of his clean energy initiatives and the lack of support from the White House.
While Trump has publicly praised Musk as a “visionary contributor,” sources suggest the two have not spoken in recent weeks. Musk’s symbolic wardrobe shift—from a “Make America Great Again” hat to a “Occupy Mars” T-shirt—has further fueled speculation of a break. Observers say Musk’s renewed focus on space exploration, particularly Mars colonization, signals a strategic pivot away from political entanglements toward long-term scientific ambition.
The split has already shaken markets, with Tesla shares dipping amid investor uncertainty. Analysts believe this high-profile fallout highlights the growing tension between technological independence and political influence in Washington.
