A public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has exposed tensions within Trump’s political network, alarming Republicans ahead of the U.S. election. The split follows months of growing policy and personality clashes.

When Elon Musk denounced Republicans’ hefty spending plan as a “disgusting abomination” earlier this week, he largely steered clear of President Donald Trump, who has thrown his support behind the One Big Beautiful Bill. That changed on Thursday afternoon when the world’s richest man went after the world’s most powerful man.