The once-rosy relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has taken a sharp turn, igniting what many are calling a high-stakes “Bromance Breakup” with potential consequences for U.S. national security.
Trump has threatened to cancel billions in government contracts with SpaceX, sparking concerns that the U.S. may once again become dependent on Russia for space launches and access to the International Space Station (ISS).
“SpaceX is not like the appendix but a vital organ in everything the United States is doing in space,” said Clayton Swope, deputy director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in an interview with Newsweek.
How the Feud Started
The bromance began when Musk contributed millions to Trump’s campaign and ended after Musk stepped down from leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk was critical of the One Big Beautiful Bill, a Trump-backed spending bill. He fought it on X. Trump fired back on Truth Social, threatening to axe Musk’s subsidies and contracts, for SpaceX, Starlink, and Tesla.
