“He’s very disrespectful:” Trump Shuts Door on Musk Amid Fallout That Could Help Democrats and Rebrand Tesla

President Donald Trump has ruled out reconciling with Elon Musk, saying he’s not interested in mending their relationship after it dramatically collapsed this week. Speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump was blunt when asked if their alliance was over: “I would assume so, yeah.”

The president accused the billionaire of being “disrespectful to the office of the President,” a remark that came just days after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s tax reform bill—legislation Trump has proudly branded the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” That criticism sparked a rapid-fire exchange between the two men on their respective social media platforms, where Trump threatened to terminate government contracts tied to Musk’s businesses. Musk retaliated with a now-deleted post referencing Trump’s alleged ties to the so-called “Epstein files.”

“He’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the President,” Trump said in the NBC interview, reaffirming his refusal to make peace.

Although Musk has signaled a willingness to de-escalate—scrubbing posts that included damaging videos and blunt accusations—Trump, known for his deep intolerance for criticism, has shown no interest in reconciliation. His latest comments suggest this split may be permanent.

The high-stakes feud is already rippling through the political and business spheres. Analysts say the very public fallout may inadvertently favor the Democrats by weakening a previously powerful alliance that helped fund and amplify Trump’s messaging. Trump, clearly still stung by the betrayal, warned Musk against backing Democratic candidates in future elections.

“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump said. “Very serious consequences.”

Musk, who poured hundreds of millions into supporting Trump’s 2024 campaign, has since signaled a more hands-off approach. “I do not currently see a reason” to spend on politics, Musk said at the Qatar Economic Forum in May.

While the clash has unsettled markets—Tesla stock and Dogecoin both dipped after Musk’s posts—it may have handed the carmaker something money couldn’t buy: political neutrality.

According to American author and energy analyst Alex Avoigt, the rift has unshackled Tesla from the polarizing image it had gained in recent months.

“Tesla is now once again a brand that can be bought with a clear conscience by Democrats and Republicans alike, and that’s a positive thing,” Avoigt said. “Elon has expressed his negative opinions and feelings towards both parties, making Tesla products neutral and not politically connected. No one needs to justify buying and driving a Tesla anymore.”

Trump’s stance suggests that even if Musk continues to retreat from the spotlight or tempers his commentary, the bridge may already be burned. The president, who has clashed with former allies in the past—such as Jeff Sessions, Rex Tillerson, and even Fox News—rarely circles back to repair relationships once they sour.

Vice President JD Vance tried to strike a middle ground, describing Musk as “one of the most transformational entrepreneurs ever,” but also calling his behavior a “huge mistake.”

“I’m not saying he has to agree with everything… I just think it’s a huge mistake to be at war with the world’s most powerful man,” Vance said during a podcast interview. “Hopefully Elon figures it out and comes back into the fold.”

But as of now, that fold appears firmly shut. And while the political cost to Musk remains unclear, the unintended consequence of rebranding Tesla as a nonpartisan brand may be one upside in an otherwise messy fallout.