Elon Musk may have finally reached the end of his rope with President Donald Trump —and vice versa. While the world’s richest man wars with the president on X, Republican strategists and insiders in Trumpworld tell WIRED that Musk’s broader future in Republican politics is on shaky ground.

Over the last few days, Musk has posted increasingly personal criticisms at Trump and the Republican budget reconciliation package known as the Big Beautiful Bill on X. This came to a head on Thursday, when Trump addressed the relationship during a press conference with German chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” said Trump, who compared Musk to past aides who have, he said, developed “Trump derangement syndrome” after leaving his

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