Musk Lost to Trump. He Can't Get Over It.

Elon Musk is like a dog with a bone. What's made him so successful, an unwavering belief that he is right, can also be his undoing—especially when the world's richest man becomes emotional about the matter.

- Tim Higgins

That's been evident this week in Musk's latest blowup with the White House. His last-minute, failed attempt to scuttle President Trump's "one big, beautiful bill" has likely torched whatever standing he had left in Washington, D.C. In the process he's highlighted the limits of his own political power.

Musk—however naively—thought Trump was the man to back his vision for cutting government. Instead, Trump has only one agenda—his own. And Musk seemingly can't let that go.

"Physics sees through all lies perfectly," Musk posted this week on his social-media platform X.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO's political power in Washington—which just a few months ago seemed limitless—was always about proximity to the president.

What made him unique from other Trump advisers was the threat of a messy breakup and Musk going nuclear in a way few can—or have a willingness to.

Yet, this week looked pretty messy, and Trump won.

Musk called Republicans "the PORKY PIG PARTY," adding in an X post that it was "time for a new political party that actually cares about the people." He even threw support behind a Trump antagonist, Rep. Thomas Massie. The Republican, too, was against the megabill. He was one of only two House Republicans who ultimately voted against the bill Thursday.

Naturally, Musk's antics angered the White House on the cusp of a much-wanted, domestic victory. They also angered investors.