Elon Musk Privately Calls Trump an ‘Idiot,’ Former Trump Official Claims: Inside the Fallout of a Fractured Alliance
In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through political and tech circles alike, a former senior Trump administration official has claimed to possess what they describe as "clear proof" that Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, privately harbors a deeply dismissive view of former President Donald Trump—allegedly referring to him in private conversations as “an idiot.”
The source, who spoke under condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter and ongoing legal non-disclosure agreements, shared excerpts from internal emails and text exchanges between Musk and other business leaders during Trump's presidency. According to these communications, Musk repeatedly expressed exasperation with Trump’s behavior and decision-making, calling him “incoherent,” “a walking distraction,” and, on at least two occasions, “a damn idiot.”
The source said these remarks were made during internal conversations in 2018 and again in 2020, at the height of Trump’s influence over the Republican Party and the federal government.
The Break Between Public Praise and Private Loathing
The disclosure has renewed scrutiny of Musk’s evolving political stance. Though he was not overtly partisan during the 2016 election, Musk accepted an invitation to serve on Trump’s economic advisory council in early 2017. That relationship, however, was publicly severed when Musk resigned from the council in protest after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.
Despite that move, Musk continued to maintain an ambiguous public posture toward Trump, at times praising his regulatory reforms while criticizing his environmental and immigration policies. Musk’s more recent rightward leanings—evident in his criticisms of “woke” ideology, endorsements of Republican candidates, and support for free-speech absolutism on X (formerly Twitter)—led many to believe he had grown closer to Trump’s camp once again.
But the newly revealed private commentary paints a different picture.
“It was always transactional,” the former official said. “Musk never respected Trump’s intellect. He thought Trump was a showman with no grasp of real policy or science. He played nice because it helped Tesla and SpaceX at the time.”
The 'Proof' in Question
The documents allegedly include screenshots of emails between Musk and a group of tech executives, some of whom were seeking to coordinate messaging on federal clean energy subsidies. In one email, Musk reportedly vented that "trying to explain energy policy to Trump is like trying to teach algebra to a golden retriever."
In a separate Signal chat log, Musk allegedly joked about Trump’s obsession with crowd sizes and poll numbers, writing: “Imagine being this fragile AND this dumb.”
The authenticity of the documents has not yet been independently verified, but the source claims they have already been reviewed by investigative journalists and legal experts.
“He mocked Trump behind closed doors constantly,” the official added. “He just didn’t want to alienate his fan base. But don’t mistake that for genuine respect.”
Political Ramifications
The timing of these revelations could not be more politically sensitive. Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, while Musk continues to grow his political influence, including through his ownership of X—a platform now used by many on the right as a free-speech alternative to traditional media.
If Musk’s alleged insults gain traction, it could create tensions between him and Trump loyalists, some of whom have viewed Musk as a rare tech-world ally in their culture war battles.
Already, pro-Trump commentators have begun calling for boycotts of Tesla and SpaceX, accusing Musk of duplicity. Conservative influencer Jack Posobiec posted: “Elon pretended to be one of us. Now we know the truth. He’s just another globalist laughing at Trump behind his back.”
However, others have rallied to Musk’s defense. Some libertarian-leaning Republicans argue that Musk’s criticisms merely reflect broader frustrations with Trump’s impulsive leadership style.
“Elon’s just saying what a lot of us think,” tweeted tech investor David Sacks. “Trump has charisma and instincts, sure—but he also made a mess of a lot of things.”
Musk’s Response: Silence or Strategy?
As of this writing, Musk has not commented on the allegations directly. A request for comment sent to Tesla’s media relations team received no reply. On X, Musk has been active, tweeting about Mars missions and AI development, but has avoided the political firestorm altogether.
Political analysts say Musk’s silence is likely strategic. “He knows any confirmation could ignite a backlash among his supporters,” said Dr. Lena Alvarez, a political communications expert at the University of Southern California. “At the same time, denial would be disingenuous if these documents are real. So he’s riding it out.”
Alvarez also noted that Musk’s brand—equal parts innovation, disruption, and contrarianism—gives him more leeway than most public figures.
“He can insult Trump and still appeal to a broad swath of people who are tired of political orthodoxy,” she said. “But this could still cost him allies in Washington.”
A Growing Divide on the Right?
This latest drama underscores a growing fracture within the American right between traditional conservatives, Trump loyalists, and a new class of tech-oriented libertarians who value deregulation but chafe at authoritarian rhetoric.
“Elon was never MAGA,” said the former Trump official. “He just saw the movement as a way to weaken bureaucracies and boost innovation. But now that Trump is on his revenge tour, people are starting to ask who’s really on his side—and who’s just riding the wave.”
If the emails are authenticated and gain mainstream attention, Musk may have to make a choice: publicly align with Trump to preserve his cultural cachet—or distance himself and risk becoming a target of the very populism he once seemed to support.
For now, one thing seems certain: the bromance between Musk and Trump, if it ever existed, was more fiction than fact.
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