Elon Musk’s social media antics have once again shaken both Wall Street and Washington. The world’s richest man found himself in a heated public fallout with former ally President Donald Trump following Musk’s departure from his controversial role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). After donating nearly $300 million to Trump’s campaign and frequently appearing in MAGA gear at the White House, Musk’s fortunes took a sharp hit—reportedly losing 25% of his net worth, around $113 billion. But their once-tight relationship unraveled this month when Musk lashed out against Trump’s proposed spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination
Things escalated when Musk dropped a bombshell on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that Trump’s name appeared in the infamous Epstein files—a post he later deleted. Trump quickly fired back in a televised interview, accusing Musk of having “lost his mind” and threatening to sever the billionaire’s government contracts. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s outburst as sour grapes, noting his displeasure with the spending bill’s lack of Musk-friendly provisions. Musk didn’t back down, warning that Trump’s new tariffs could trigger a recession before year’s end. Their spat played out across social media like a political tech-thriller, with both men trading barbs and taking jabs
But just as quickly as it flared, Musk appeared to shift gears—posting a brief, 11-word apology that may have earned him $191 million. “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week,” he wrote, prompting a warmer response from Trump’s camp. Leavitt confirmed the president had seen the message and “appreciated it,” while Trump himself called it “very nice.” In a testament to the market-moving power of Musk’s words, Forbes reported that his wealth rebounded by nearly $200 million within hours of the post. Whether it’s damage control or genuine regret, one thing’s clear: few people can turn 11 words into nearly a quarter-billion dollars like Elon Musk.
