The political partnership between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has exploded in spectacular fashion into a bitter war of words.

It began when Mr Trump said he was “surprised and disappointed” at Elon Musk’s criticism of his flagship spending bill. He said they had had a “great relationship” but “I don’t know if we will any more”.

Elon Musk responded on his social media platform X with a series of increasingly heated remarks about his former boss. He said the President’s claims that he has supported the budget bill were “false”. He said Mr Trump was “ungrateful” for his help in getting elected and would have lost the election without his financial support. Mr Musk warned that the President’s tariffs policy would lead to a recession.

Then Musk made an explosive allegation, claiming without evidence that Donald Trump is named in the files about the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He said that “is the real reason they have not been made public”.

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 Musk’s companies. Musk said that President Trump should be impeached.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith and Simon Jack.

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