The tensions between the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, have reached a boiling point this Thursday after the magnate advocated for an impeachment against the president.
Musk supported with a strong "Yes" the comment of a follower on X who suggested an impeachment for Trump and stated that he was betting on Elon Musk's victory in the open war among the former allies.
Ian Miles Cheong, a prominent supporter of Musk and a right-wing activist on X, posted: "President versus Elon. Who wins? I bet on Elon. Trump should be impeached and JD Vance should replace him."
Musk replied, "Yes."
The confrontation could even have implications for global space security. Through his social network X (formerly Twitter), the mogul ordered SpaceX to begin the immediate dismantling of its Dragon spacecraft, one of the key components in transporting supplies and crew to the International Space Station (ISS).
The decision comes just a few hours after Trump threatened to cancel all of Musk's federal contracts in response to his criticisms of the White House's tax plan.
"We cannot carry out critical risk missions with a government that acts out of personal vengeance. For reasons of national security and institutional integrity, the Dragon program is immediately suspended," Musk stated on X.
The Dragon spacecraft has been essential to the logistics of the ISS since the United States divorced itself from the Russian Soyuz capsules. Its sudden retirement poses a challenge for NASA and other allied space agencies that rely on its services to keep the international station operational.
The announcement comes amid a chaotic week in the relationship between Musk and Trump, who were previously seen as strategic allies.
The tech mogul has not only publicly questioned the president's fiscal plan—calling it a "repugnant abomination"—but also asserted that Trump would have lost the 2024 elections without his financial and media support.
Trump, for his part, responded from his platform Truth Social that Musk was "worn out," that he "went crazy," and that he himself had ousted him from the Government, canceling the federal mandate for electric vehicles "that nobody wants."
"I removed his mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars that no one wanted, and he simply went MAD," Trump wrote.
The episode marks a point of no return in an already fractured relationship. In addition to the financial issue and Dragon's withdrawal, Musk suggested this Thursday that Trump is involved in the Epstein case, and that his name appears in the classified documents of the child sex trafficking scandal that has shaken the American elite.
"The truth will come to light," Musk wrote, asserting that this is "the real reason why the Epstein files have not been released."
The war between the President of the United States and one of the most influential businessmen in the world is no longer just political or economic, political analysts assert.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump
Why did Elon Musk call for an impeachment against Donald Trump?
Elon Musk suggested an impeachment against Donald Trump after the president threatened to cancel all federal contracts with SpaceX in response to Musk's criticism of the White House's tax plan. Musk argued that the government was acting out of personal revenge, putting national security and institutional integrity at risk.
What does the suspension of the Dragon program by SpaceX imply?
The suspension of the Dragon program by SpaceX poses a serious challenge for the logistics of the International Space Station (ISS), as the Dragon spacecraft has been essential for transporting supplies and crew since the United States stopped using the Russian Soyuz capsules. This jeopardizes missions scheduled for the rest of the year and impacts NASA and other allied space agencies that rely on its services.
What has been the reason for the break between Elon Musk and Donald Trump?
The breakup between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is due to disagreements over Trump's tax plan and the threat of canceling federal contracts with SpaceX. Musk publicly criticized the tax plan, calling it a "repugnant abomination," and also questioned the legitimacy of Trump's 2024 electoral victory, suggesting that without his financial and media support, Trump would not have won.
What consequences could the breakup between Musk and Trump have on space operations?
The rift between Musk and Trump could negatively impact international space cooperation, as the withdrawal of the Dragon program directly affects ISS missions. Space experts have warned about the immediate consequences of this decision, which could disrupt the supply chain of the space station and complicate relations with allied space agencies.
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