Asger Risom
A political and personal feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk triggered a $150 billion market loss for Tesla, fueled by Epstein-related claims and threats to sever government ties.
A clash between two of America’s most influential power players has turned public, vicious, and wildly expensive. The fallout from Elon Musk’s high-stakes spat with U.S. President Donald Trump has already cost Tesla billions — and the storm is far from over.
A Relationship in Ruins
Once seen as political allies, Trump and Musk are now embroiled in a bitter public fight. It erupted after Musk criticized Trump’s tax agenda and claimed the president’s name appears in files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose documents continue to haunt global elites.
Trump fired back with a direct threat to terminate all federal contracts with Musk’s companies. That warning sent shockwaves through financial markets, tanking Tesla’s stock by 14% in a single day — a loss equivalent to $150 billion in market value, according to 20minutos.
Bannon Calls for Deportation
The feud escalated further when Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House strategist, publicly demanded Musk’s deportation.
Deport Elon Musk immediately
With those words on social media, Bannon added fuel to an already incendiary situation. Neither Trump nor Musk has backed down — and neither has offered clarification on the Epstein document claims.
Fallout Beyond Wall Street
The sharp dip in Tesla’s value highlights not only market sensitivity to political drama, but also the fragility of private-sector relationships with government funding. Musk’s companies rely heavily on public contracts, and the president’s threats carry significant weight.
Investors are watching closely. But with legal, financial, and reputational implications mounting, the question is no longer just about stock prices — it’s about survival in a political minefield.