Trump-Musk row explodes as billionaire claims President named in Epstein files.
The key political partnership between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has exploded in spectacular fashion with a bitter war of words.
It began when Mr Trump said he was āsurprised and disappointedā at Elon Muskās criticism of his flagship budget bill. He said they had had a āgreat relationshipā but āI donāt know if we will any moreā.
Elon Musk responded on his social media platform X with a series of increasingly heated remarks about his former boss.
Elon Musk said the Presidentās claims that he has supported the budget bill were āfalseā, Mr Trump was āungratefulā for his help in getting elected and would have lost the election without his financial support.
Elon Musk also claimed that the Presidentās tariffs policy would lead to a recession.
Then Musk made an extraordinary allegation. He said that Donald Trump is in the files about the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk said that āis the real reason they have not been made publicā.
Donald Trump suggested that the easiest way to save money would be to terminate the billions of dollars in government contracts and subsidies that go to Elon Muskās companies.
Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith and Simon Jack.