Escalating rivalry: the open hostility between Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Twitter

Escalating rivalry: the open hostility between Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Twitter

3 Hour Plunge: In just three hours, Tesla's stock dropped by a staggering 14%, leading to a whopping loss of €139 billion (approximately $150 billion) on Thursday. This dramatic fallout occurred during the heated Twitter exchange between Tesla's proprietor, Elon Musk, and U.S. President Donald Trump.

Power Struggle Symbolized: The rollercoaster ride of Tesla's stock serves as a metaphor for the evolving relationships between Trump and Musk: a promising start following Musk's return to the White House, culminating in an all-time high of €488 per share in December. However, their bond faltered, with the stock plummeting over 40% and settling at €280 on Thursday.

Trump's Warning: The decline in Tesla's stock was triggered by Trump's threat to end subsidies and contracts for Musk's companies. Trump tweeted, "Eliminating Elon's government contracts could save thousands, even billions, of dollars." This comment was a response to Musk's criticism of Trump's fiscal plan, which Musk described as a "repugnant abomination."

The Trump-Musk Split: A Public War of Words

Genealogy of a Split Announcement

Once upon a time, images of Elon Musk, grinning in the Oval Office, epitomized a strategic ally of the new U.S. Administration.

Musk donated unprecedented amounts to the Republican campaign and was subsequently appointed as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role specifically created for him to reduce public spending and modernize the government through his technological vision [1]. Yet,this romance lasted only 130 days, ample time for their divergent personalities to demonstrate the impossibility of lasting harmony.

Musk Bids the White House Adieu the Day After Slamming Trump's Fiscal Bill

Musk took to his X account to express his disappointment, stating, "Without me, Trump would have lost the elections." Later, he asserted that Trump's import tariffs would drive the U.S. into a recession by year-end.

Financial Losers

The American People Bear the Brunt"There are studies published recently by the Financial Times indicating the level of distrust among global companies—and especially European ones—to invest in the U.S.," said Mariano Aguirre, an associate researcher at the Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB). In an interview on TVE's 24 Hours channel, he further pointed out that such a drop in investments has dire consequences for the U.S. economy, including slower economic growth, reduced competitiveness compared to other countries, and less employment opportunities.

OECD's Adjusted Growth ExpectationsThe Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reduced its growth expectations for the U.S. economy to 1.6% this year and 1.5% in 2026. This downward revision is a significant decrease from previous estimates made before Trump assumed office [1].

Increasing InstabilityIn Aguirre's opinion, "companies need certainty, they need stability, and this government, the White House, is doing exactly the opposite." This instability, manifested in the stock market, led to Tesla's shares plummeting €30 billion and over 12% in a single day [2]. This coupled with Musk's threat to disassemble the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the primary vessel for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), underscores the volatility in U.S.-Tesla relations.

Musk's Fortune UnscathedDespite these setbacks, Elon Musk remains the wealthiest individual worldwide, with a net worth estimated to be approximately €340.366 billion ($387.900 billion), according to Forbes. Musk's wealth is astonishingly 70 times greater than Donald Trump's, who boasts a net worth of around €4.738 billion ($5.400 billion).

Millions in Contracts on the LineThe rift between the two could put millions of dollars in contracts between the U.S. government and Musk's companies at risk. One of the companies heavily impacted by this break-up is SpaceX, which holds significant agreements with the U.S. administration, including astronaut transportation via the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and ISS deorbiting contracts in 2030 [1].

A Blow to Trump's Influence

Losing Musk's support could complicate fundraising for the 2022 midterm elections and dent Trump's growing influence among tech donors. Furthermore, Musk's suggestion of creating a political party that represents the 80% in the center garnered 82.1% support from his poll on Twitter. These developments may shape the political landscape and test the fortitude of Trump's allies.

[1] Flourish data visualization (accessed on [URL])[2] Wall Street Journal (published on [date])

• Elon Musk's departure from the White House after criticizing Trump's fiscal bill marked a significant shift in international finance and entrepreneurship, potentially impacting policy-and-legislation and politics.
• The fallout between Musk and Trump could have far-reaching consequences, with studies indicating decreased trust in U.S. investments among global companies, particularly those from Europe.
• This decrease in investments, as described by Mariano Aguirre, could lead to slower economic growth, reduced competitiveness, and fewer job opportunities for the U.S., as outlined in the OECD's adjusted growth expectations.
• The volatile relationship between Musk and Trump has been exemplified by the plunge in Tesla's stock, with a €30 billion loss in a single day, and Musk's threat to disassemble the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, a critical vessel for the International Space Station.
• Despite these setbacks, Musk remains one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, with a net worth seven times greater than Trump's.
• The rift between Musk and Trump could put millions of dollars in contracts between the U.S. government and Musk's companies at risk, particularly SpaceX, which holds significant agreements with the U.S. administration.

In addition to these sentences, the given text mentions pop-culture and general-news, although those topics are not directly linked to the provided words. For example, Musk's Twitter account could be considered a form of social-media, and his assertions about Trump's import tariffs could be tied to political rhetoric or policy discussions. However, a direct reference to pop-culture or general-news is not present in the existing text.

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