The recent public feud between Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist and a close ally of President Donald Trump, has escalated to include derogatory slurs and contentious online exchanges. This conflict reached a peak when Musk responded to Bannon's criticism with inflammatory remarks on social media.
The altercation unfolded on June 6, 2025, when Elon Musk took to Twitter to voice his opinion on Bannon, labeling him a "communist r----d" in a direct reply to a post that highlighted Bannon's recent comments about Musk. These remarks were a response to Bannon's increasingly aggressive stance towards the billionaire, as he called for President Trump to utilize the Defense Production Act to take control of Musk's companies and suggested that Musk be deported.
Steve Bannon has been critical of Musk's motives, suggesting that Musk's alignment with Trump was not based on shared principles but rather self-serving interests. The tension between Trump and Musk had been simmering, but it boiled over with the exchange of online insults and threats, further involving Trump's inner circle.
Bannon, taking his criticism a step further on his podcast, alleged that Musk—who was born in South Africa and is a naturalized U.S. citizen—might be committing immigration fraud and should be investigated and potentially deported. Bannon also called for federal action against SpaceX, urging Trump to seize the company immediately.
The ongoing feud has not only been confined to personal attacks but has also impacted market confidence, with Tesla shares plummeting by 14% on the same day, leading to a loss of approximately $152.4 billion in market value. Musk's subsequent endorsement of a post calling for Trump's impeachment and replacement with Vice President JD Vance added fuel to the fire.
In response to Musk's actions, Bannon expressed his outrage and promised a confrontational approach, indicating a personal sense of betrayal by Musk, whom Trump had previously treated with familial closeness and favor.
The situation raises questions about the legal feasibility of seizing Musk's businesses, as the Defense Production Act—used by President Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate vaccine production—does have its limitations. Moreover, Musk's announcement that SpaceX would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft, crucial to the International Space Station, marks a significant move, although its execution remains uncertain.
The escalating conflict between two high-profile figures with substantial influence has caught the public's attention, with the potential for lasting implications on both political and business landscapes.
