Trump Says Relationship With Elon Musk Changed Over Electric Vehicle Mandate Repeal
President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that his once-close relationship with Elon Musk began to sour after his administration took steps to eliminate California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate—a move Musk has opposed despite previously backing Trump.
Speaking during a bill signing ceremony at the White House, Trump acknowledged he was surprised that Musk, whom he described as a “friend,” never raised objections directly about the plan to block states like California from phasing out gasoline-powered vehicles.
“I thought he would mention it, especially considering what’s at stake for his business,” Trump said. “He endorsed me, and I appreciate that. But this mandate was never going to fly.”
On Thursday, Trump signed three congressional resolutions targeting California’s aggressive emissions rules. The measures overturn:
- A waiver issued by the Biden-era EPA requiring at least 80% of new vehicles in California be electric by 2035,
- California’s plan to increase the number of zero-emission heavy-duty trucks,
- And its low-nitrogen oxide regulations for heavy-duty and off-road vehicles.
The fallout between the two men follows Musk’s resignation last month from his government post as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At the time, Musk had reassured Trump that Tesla would thrive regardless of regulations.
“As long as I’m on the same plane as everybody else, we’re going to do good. We make a better product,” Musk reportedly told Trump.
“I said, ‘That’s very cool. It’s very good,’” Trump recounted. “But after that, he got a little bit strange—over much smaller things.”
The pair’s relationship, once a symbol of the merging of MAGA populism and Silicon Valley innovation, has since devolved into public jabs and personal insults.
In the early days of Trump’s second term, Musk had been a visible supporter and was tapped to lead an aggressive cost-cutting initiative across federal agencies. He was hired as a “special government employee”—a role that limited him to 130 working days per year. Musk’s final day under that designation was May 30.
Since his departure, Musk has openly criticized Trump’s signature One Big Beautiful Bill Act, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” Trump, for his part, accused Musk of being upset over the loss of EV tax credits and his administration’s refusal to nominate Musk’s preferred NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, due to Isaacman’s previous donations to Democratic candidates.
The feud escalated last week when Musk retaliated by linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein and warning that Trump’s tariff policies could cause a recession.
At the height of their partnership, Trump and Musk made several joint appearances, including a SpaceX launch, a UFC event with CEO Dana White, and a news conference at the White House. Trump even defended Tesla owners amid protests tied to budget cuts at DOGE and famously parked his red Tesla outside the West Wing as a show of solidarity.
