Category: Global

The once-strong alliance between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk has dramatically collapsed into a bitter public feud playing out on X and Truth Social, with Trump threatening to terminate Musk’s government contracts and Musk responding with the explosive allegation that Trump appears in the sealed Jeffrey Epstein files. Trump-Musk Feud Origins The rift between the two powerful figures began when Musk publicly criticized Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and “outrageous” for its massive cost and rollback of electric vehicle incentives. This criticism came as a shock to many, as it followed shortly after Trump had honored Musk at the White House for his contributions to government reform through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In response to Musk’s criticism, Trump initially expressed disappointment before the situation rapidly escalated. According to reports, Musk claimed Trump was lying about having asked him to leave DOGE, while Trump called Musk “crazy” as their once-friendly relationship deteriorated into a public spectacle. The intensity of their fallout mirrors how quickly their alliance had formed, with Musk having been a crucial supporter during Trump’s 2024 election campaign. Government Contract Threats The feud reached a new level of intensity when President Trump directly threatened Musk’s business interests, declaring that “the easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.” This remarkable threat targeted SpaceX and Tesla, companies that rely heavily on federal funding and contracts worth billions of dollars. The market reacted swiftly, with Tesla’s share price plummeting as much as 15% in late trading following Trump’s statements. In response to these threats, Musk announced that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft—a critical component for NASA’s access to the International Space Station—potentially forcing the United States to rely on Russian space transport. The tech billionaire also fired back with claims about his electoral importance, stating, “Without my involvement, Trump would have lost the election, the Democrats would dominate the House, and the Senate would be 51-49 in favor of them.” Epstein Files Allegations As tensions peaked on June 5, Musk unleashed what he called “the really big bomb” on his social media platform X: “@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” This explosive allegation, made without providing evidence, immediately reignited public interest in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender whose connections to high-profile figures have fueled years of speculation. While Trump’s name is known to appear in Epstein’s social circles from earlier decades, there is no public evidence implicating him in Epstein’s crimes. The Justice Department has released some Epstein-related documents, but many remain sealed or redacted, officially to protect ongoing investigations and victims’ privacy. Neither Trump nor the White House has issued a formal response to this specific allegation, which represents the most serious escalation in their rapidly deteriorating relationship. Political and Economic Impact The fallout between these two influential figures has sent shockwaves through both political and financial spheres. Financially, Tesla lost over $150 billion in market value in a single day as investors reacted to the potential loss of government contracts. The space program faces significant disruption, as Musk’s threat to withdraw the Dragon spacecraft jeopardizes America’s only current means of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, with Boeing’s Starliner still out of service. Politically, the rupture raises serious questions about Republican unity around the president’s legislative agenda. The spectacle has played out entirely on social media platforms—Trump using Truth Social while Musk deployed X—allowing millions to witness the relationship deteriorate in real-time. What began as a policy disagreement over a budget bill has evolved into one of the most consequential political breakups of Trump’s presidency, potentially affecting everything from space exploration to electric vehicle production to GOP donor support.

As President Donald Trump pushes to revive America’s coal industry through sweeping executive orders, his broader economic agenda faces mounting legal challenges that could undermine his fossil fuel ambitions while Congress moves to slash clean energy programs. The collision of Trump’s coal revival efforts with court battles over his tariff authority and Republican budget cuts to renewable energy highlights the complex tradeoffs at the heart of his second-term energy strategy, creating uncertainty for both traditional and emerging power sectors. Coal Gets Presidential Boost Trump signed four executive orders in April aimed at “reinvigorating America’s beautiful clean coal industry,” reclassifying coal as a “mineral” to unlock subsidies and expedite permitting on federal lands. The orders also granted nearly 50 coal plants a two-year exemption from Biden-era Clean Air Act rules requiring reductions in mercury, benzene and other toxic emissions. “Coal is essential to our national and economic security,” the White House declared, directing agencies to eliminate policies transitioning away from coal production. Trump promised that shuttered plants would reopen, telling coal workers at a White House ceremony that “all those plants that have been closed are going to be opened”. The push comes as electricity demand surges from data centers and artificial intelligence, with Trump positioning coal as crucial for powering AI infrastructure. Courts Challenge Trade Authority Yet Trump’s broader economic strategy faces judicial scrutiny. The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled May 28 that Trump’s sweeping tariffs exceeded presidential authority under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act. While a federal appeals court temporarily stayed that ruling, the case appears headed to the Supreme Court. The legal uncertainty creates particular challenges for coal exports. Signal Peak Energy’s Montana mine, which sends 98% of its coal to Japan and South Korea, could see expansion plans threatened if tariffs spark retaliation. “A reaction could conceivably come from Japan and South Korea saying, ‘Well, if you’re going to tariff our shipbuilding or our products, fine, we’re not buying your damn coal,’” said rancher Pat Thiele. Green Energy Faces Cuts Meanwhile, House Republicans passed legislation May 22 cutting clean energy tax credits by a 215-214 margin. The bill eliminates subsidies for projects that don’t break ground within 60 days, while Trump’s budget proposes $19.3 billion in cuts to the Department of Energy, including $15 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure law. Energy analysts warn the coal revival could strand “tens of billions of dollars” in renewable energy investments, with up to 50 gigawatts of coal capacity that would have retired now potentially remaining online. “As long as they’ve got somebody to buy it, they’ll keep mining,” Thiele observed