Trump rethinks his Tesla as Musk feud shifts into high gear

Key information:

• Trump may sell his Tesla, CBS News reports, as part of a public rift with Elon Musk.
• The vehicle was once a gesture of support, purchased after a Tesla showcase at the White House.
• The president has threatened to cut Musk’s federal contracts, citing massive government spending.
• Musk briefly threatened to pull SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from NASA service, before backing down.
• Tesla stock fell 14% amid the feud and political uncertainty surrounding Musk’s companies.
• The relationship has deteriorated rapidly, following disagreements over Trump’s domestic policy and the revocation of the EV mandate.
• Musk has not responded to Trump’s latest remarks, though his father predicts the row "will fizzle out."

The red Tesla, parked for weeks at the White House, was purchased earlier this year as a public gesture of support for Musk and the electric vehicle company he leads. At the time, Trump praised Musk as a "visionary" and used the vehicle to promote American innovation. Now, amid an increasingly bitter public feud, that show of support appears to be evaporating.

Trump’s consideration of offloading his Tesla follows days of escalating tension between the two men, a dispute that has unfolded across interviews, social media, and press briefings.

"I'm not even thinking about Elon," Trump told CNN earlier Friday. "The poor guy's got a problem."

When asked by ABC News if reconciliation was possible, Trump dismissed the idea: "You mean the man who has lost his mind?"

For his part, Musk, who was quick to spar with Trump on social media earlier this week, has remained relatively quiet in response to the latest statements. While he appeared to step back from an earlier threat to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, his frustration with the administration remains visible.

The potential Tesla sale carries both symbolic and political weight. Trump has increasingly turned his ire toward Musk’s companies, accusing him of benefiting from federal subsidies while criticizing the president’s legislative agenda.

On Thursday, Trump publicly floated the idea of cutting Musk’s access to government contracts, writing on Truth Social:

"The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts."

The comment came shortly after Musk slammed Trump’s domestic policy platform and withdrew SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft from service — a move that would have disrupted NASA’s ability to resupply the International Space Station. Musk later reversed course, replying "ok, we won’t decommission Dragon" in response to public calls for de-escalation.

Just weeks ago, the pair appeared united. Trump hosted Musk at a White House event in March, showcasing Tesla vehicles on the South Lawn. The president later purchased his Tesla Model S, calling it a "show of confidence" in the company’s future.

But cracks began to emerge after Trump revoked the federal EV mandate, a policy Musk had championed to support electric vehicle adoption. "He knew for months I was going to do it," Trump wrote Thursday. "And he just went CRAZY!"

Musk responded bluntly: "Such an obvious lie. So sad."

Now, Tesla's stock is under pressure, dropping over 14 percent on Thursday, and Musk is facing criticism from both political parties over the tone of his recent outbursts. Meanwhile, Trump has turned the rift into a broader campaign message, framing himself as tough on billionaires who don’t "deliver for the American taxpayer."

According to BBC reporting, Musk's father, Errol Musk, downplayed the situation as a "bull fight" between two dominant personalities.

"Trump and Elon are bulls having the final round over who will be boss, but it'll fizzle out soon," he told BBC World Service. He added that Elon is "standing on principle" but may need to recognize that compromise is often necessary in politics.

Whether the Tesla sale happens or not, the moment reflects a deeper shift: a once mutually beneficial alliance between two of America’s most prominent public figures has unraveled, and neither appears ready to back down.

As the White House confirms Trump is "focused totally on policy" and not Musk, Tesla may become a casualty of a conflict that’s no longer just personal, but political.

Sources: Politico, BBC, CNBC