'He just went CRAZY' How the Oval Office bromance crashed and exploded in the space of a week

Breaking up is hard to do, and even harder if you are a billionaire who decides to break up with another billionaire on the two social media platforms you own, while the world watches in real time.

- Martin Belam

Here are the key moments as the relationship between US president, Donald Trump, and his former senior adviser Elon Musk unravelled in spectacular fashion.

Tuesday 3 June, 1.31pm EDT Musk: 'disgusting abomination'

Musk kicked off on Tuesday, saying "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore", deriding the administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 3 June

Wednesday 4 June, 2.07am Musk: bill defeats Doge efforts

Musk doubled down.
"It more than defeats all the cost savings achieved by the @DOGE team at great personal cost and risk".
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 4 June

Thursday 5 June, 12.01pm Trump launches his attack

Hosting the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at the White House, rather than sticking to diplomatic niceties Trump used the opportunity to engage in a rant directed at Musk. Trump said he had "had" a great relationship with the Tesla boss, but "I don't know if we will any more".

Trump accused Musk of being upset because the administration was planning on taking away subsidies for electric vehicles, and mocked him for refusing an offer of make-up to cover up his black eye when he was appearing in the Oval Office. Merz looked on blankly.

12.46pm Musk: 'Such ingratitude'

Musk, who somehow despite running multiple companies never seems to be offline, responded immediately.

"False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the