Group 1 - The relationship between President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk appears to have deteriorated due to disagreements over the "big and beautiful" tax reform bill, leading to a public dispute [1][2] - Musk criticized the tax reform bill, calling it "disgusting," and expressed disappointment in Republican lawmakers who supported it, while Trump remained largely silent but felt frustrated privately [1][2] - Trump expressed his disappointment in Musk, suggesting that Musk may have a "mental disorder," and threatened to cut federal subsidies and contracts worth billions for Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX [2] Group 2 - In response to Trump's threats, Musk stated that SpaceX would "immediately begin retiring its Dragon spacecraft" [3] - Musk also publicly rebuked Trump on social media, suggesting that Trump should be impeached, and accused him of being ungrateful for Musk's support during the 2024 election campaign [4][5] - Analysts noted that this conflict signifies the end of the alliance between the President and Musk, who had previously become a significant political donor to the Republican Party, contributing nearly $300 million to Trump [6]

Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk criticized the "Big and Beautiful" tax reform bill proposed by Republicans, calling it "disgusting" and claiming it would burden the U.S. with "unbearable debt" [1] Group 1: Legislative Context - The "Big and Beautiful" bill aims to cut taxes and welfare, and was narrowly passed in the House of Representatives by a single vote [1] - The bill is currently under review in the Senate [1] Group 2: Reactions and Implications - White House Press Secretary Levitt acknowledged Musk's stance but stated it would not change the President's view on the bill [2] - House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the bill, claiming it fulfills campaign promises and makes significant tax cuts and spending reductions permanent [2] Group 3: Reasons for Musk's Criticism - The bill reduces electric vehicle tax credits that benefit Tesla and other automakers [2] - Musk's recent attempts to extend his role as a "special government employee" were unsuccessful [2] - The FAA's refusal to use Musk's Starlink satellite system for national air traffic control due to conflicts of interest and technical issues [2] - Trump's withdrawal of support for Musk's ally, Isaacman, for the NASA administrator position was a significant factor in Musk's criticism [2]