By Kennedy Nalyanya
San Francisco, CA – In a sharp public exchange that highlights the intersection of big business and high-stakes politics, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has directly refuted claims made by President Donald Trump regarding government subsidies to his companies, Tesla and SpaceX. The spat, unfolding on social media, underscores the contentious debate around clean energy incentives and government contracts.
The controversy ignited after a post on Truth Social by Trump suggested an intention to "destroy" Musk’s companies by taking away "large-scale subsidies he receives from the U.S. government."
Musk, known for his outspoken presence on X, wasted no time in rejecting the assertion. "The ‘subsidies’ he’s talking about simply do not exist," Musk declared in a direct response, dismissing Trump's premise outright.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO then escalated his counter-argument, claiming that the former president, whom he referred to simply as "DJT," had "already removed or put an expiry date on all sustainable energy support while leaving massive oil & gas subsidies untouched." This pointed remark appeared to be a direct jab at the Trump administration's past policies, particularly the scrapping of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, a key incentive for electric vehicle purchases.
Musk also took the opportunity to defend his aerospace venture, SpaceX, against any insinuation of favorable treatment. He asserted that "SpaceX won the NASA contracts by doing a better job for less money." He went on to warn of severe consequences should these contracts be shifted, stating that moving them to "other aerospace companies would leave astronauts stranded and taxpayers on the hook for twice as much!"—a strong defense of his company's operational efficiency and critical role in U.S. space endeavors.
In a characteristic display of his often-sarcastic online persona, Musk mockingly wrote "Phew" in response to a Tesla fan account's post that quoted Trump saying he would not "destroy Elon Musk’s companies."
This public disagreement between two of the world's most prominent figures highlights the ongoing tension between political rhetoric and the economic realities faced by large corporations, particularly those operating in strategically important sectors like electric vehicles and space exploration. The exchange underscores the scrutiny faced by companies that benefit from government contracts or policies, regardless of their market performance.
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