Trump warns Elon Musk of “serious consequences” over GOP spending bill fallout

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a warning to tech magnate Elon Musk on Saturday, threatening “serious consequences” if the billionaire retaliates against Republican lawmakers who support a contentious federal spending bill.

Trump's remarks to NBC News follow a dramatic and very public breakdown in his relationship with Musk — once one of the Republican Party’s most prominent donors — ignited by Musk’s scathing criticism of the spending legislation now being debated in Congress.

The rift escalated after some GOP lawmakers opposing the bill urged Musk to help fund primary challengers against Republican incumbents who support it. Trump responded sharply: “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” calling Musk “disrespectful” and confirming he had no intention of repairing their relationship.

“I’m not speaking to him again,” Trump said, putting an end to what had been a close — if unconventional — political alliance.

Just days earlier, Trump had praised Musk as he exited his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which was tasked with cutting federal bureaucracy. But tensions exploded after Musk labeled Trump’s prized spending plan an “abomination” — a move that prompted an angry response from Trump in the Oval Office and set off a high-profile feud across social media.

While both parties appeared to take a step back from the edge on Friday — with Trump telling reporters, “I just wish him well,” and Musk responding “Likewise” on X — the dispute reignited after Musk posted (and later deleted) a controversial claim linking Trump to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In the now-deleted post, Musk alleged that Trump appeared in sealed government files related to Epstein’s network. “Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote, offering no supporting evidence and failing to clarify the origin of the documents. He added: “That is the real reason they have not been made public.”

Musk initially doubled down, stating: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out,” before removing both posts by Saturday morning.

Trump dismissed the accusations as “old news,” saying in his NBC interview, “Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it.”

While Trump has not been formally accused of wrongdoing, his past ties to Epstein — a former neighbor in both New York and Florida — have drawn scrutiny. Trump has denied visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, where authorities allege Epstein trafficked underage girls. However, in a past interview, Trump had described Epstein as a “terrific guy” and remarked, “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

The resurfaced Epstein connection is fueling conspiracy theories within Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base, which has long claimed that Epstein’s criminal network was protected by political elites — primarily targeting Democrats and celebrities, but rarely implicating Trump.

The Trump administration has confirmed it is reviewing tens of thousands of documents related to Epstein, which Trump loyalists believe will expose a wider web of complicity.

For now, the political and personal schism between Trump and Musk — two of the most influential figures in modern America — appears to be deepening, with potential ramifications for both 2025 politics and Silicon Valley's role in conservative causes.