Elon Musk Declares: \'Without Me, Trump Would Have Lost the Election\'

In a political twist that has sent shockwaves through Washington and Silicon Valley alike, tech mogul Elon Musk has made a bold and controversial claim: that former President Donald Trump would not have returned to the White House without his intervention. The billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who also owns the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), took to that very platform to air his grievances and issue the dramatic statement that has set political analysts and partisans abuzz.

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” Musk posted. He concluded the post with two cutting words: “Such ingratitude.”

The remark appeared to be in response to comments made by President Trump during a press conference in the Oval Office with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where the President dismissed Musk’s recent criticisms of a sweeping new tax and infrastructure package known as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” Trump downplayed Musk’s complaints as nothing more than dissatisfaction over changes to electric vehicle (EV) subsidies, which had been scaled back in the legislation. “I\'m very disappointed in Elon,” Trump said, “but this is about money — EV money. That’s all.”

Musk, however, seems to disagree strongly. In subsequent posts on X and during a livestream Q&A hosted by venture capital firm Anduril, Musk railed against the bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that betrays conservative principles and fiscal responsibility. “This bill explodes the deficit. It cuts EV tax credits while preserving fossil fuel subsidies, and it’s loaded with pork for lobbyists. If this is conservatism, I don’t recognize it anymore,” Musk said during the livestream.

The clash between Trump and Musk is especially striking given their prior alliance. Musk, who largely stayed apolitical during the early years of Trump’s political rise, emerged in 2023 and 2024 as one of the most influential figures behind the scenes of the Republican resurgence. He publicly supported Trump’s 2024 campaign, donated nearly $300 million through various super PACs, and reshaped public discourse by making X a haven for right-leaning commentary and what he called “free speech absolutism.” For much of the 2024 election cycle, Trump and Musk praised each other, with Trump once calling Musk “a brilliant American industrialist” and Musk defending Trump’s policies as “business-friendly.”

But the harmony has now ruptured, and it’s unfolding in a very public and very personal manner. Trump’s allies have dismissed Musk’s contributions as overblown. “This wasn’t about Elon Musk. Trump won because of Trump,” said former Trump campaign adviser Corey Lewandowski in an interview on Newsmax. “We’re grateful to all donors and supporters, but let’s not rewrite history here.”

Yet Musk’s supporters argue otherwise. Political analysts and data researchers note that Musk’s influence over online discourse, particularly on X, was instrumental in energizing younger, libertarian-leaning voters who might have otherwise sat out the election. Several political action committees aligned with Musk funded key get-out-the-vote operations in swing states like Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. “He didn\'t just write checks — he activated a massive base of voters who follow him religiously,” said political analyst Reena Banerjee. “To say he had no impact is either dishonest or naive.”

The breakdown in their relationship also comes at a precarious time for Musk, who has been dealing with mounting pressure in his businesses. Tesla’s stock took a nosedive of over 8% following the latest Musk-Trump fallout. Analysts cite investor concerns about Musk’s increasing political visibility and polarizing statements. Some shareholders fear Musk is losing focus on his core businesses amid the distractions of political warfare.

“Elon Musk is the most important CEO of our time, but he’s entering dangerous territory,” said financial analyst Jordan Kaye of Morningstream Capital. “You can’t run a trillion-dollar business like Tesla and SpaceX and simultaneously declare political war on the President of the United States — even if that president was once your ally.”

Inside Tesla and SpaceX, insiders report a mix of support and concern. Some employees admire Musk’s stance on fiscal discipline and government overreach, while others worry about potential regulatory blowback from a now-hostile White House. Reports suggest the Biden administration previously targeted Tesla for emissions compliance reviews — a practice that could resume or even intensify under Trump if relations further deteriorate.

Trump, for his part, appears unmoved. After Musk’s outburst, the Trump campaign released a statement titled “No Billionaire Is Bigger Than America,” emphasizing that the president “answers to the people, not the powerful.” The release also took a swipe at Musk’s ventures, questioning Tesla’s reliance on Chinese supply chains and suggesting that Musk’s global business interests might conflict with American priorities.

That dig seemed to strike a nerve. Musk fired back within hours, accusing Trump of hypocrisy. “He talks about America First but pushes bills that help oil billionaires and defense contractors. Meanwhile, he punishes the innovators creating American jobs in energy, robotics, and AI. Hypocrisy on stilts,” Musk wrote.

Some political observers speculate that the feud could have long-term implications for both men. Musk has openly mused about supporting a third-party candidate in the future, or even launching a new political party focused on technology, innovation, and limited government. While the idea may seem far-fetched, Musk’s influence and vast resources make him a wildcard in future elections. Meanwhile, Trump’s political machine relies heavily on large donors, and losing Musk could be costly if the relationship isn\'t repaired.

“I wouldn’t count Elon out,” said GOP strategist Liz Wooten. “He’s not a politician, but he is a movement. When someone with 200 million followers and billions in capital turns against you, you feel it — even if you’re Donald Trump.”

Whether this public spat burns out quickly or becomes a defining political battle in the coming months remains to be seen. For now, it’s clear that one of the most powerful business minds in the world feels betrayed by the very president he helped re-elect. And he’s not going quietly.

As one X user commented under Musk’s original post: “When billionaires go to war, democrac gets caught in the crossfire.