Former Friend Claims Elon Musk Seeks to Undermine President Trump

Washington, D.C. — Philip Low, a former friend of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, claimed in an interview with Politico on Monday, June 30, 2025, that Musk is determined to oppose President Donald Trump. "I’ve had my share of blowouts with Elon over the years," Low told Politico. "Knowing Elon the way I know him, I do think he’s going to do everything to damage the president."

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has publicly criticized the GOP's comprehensive legislative package, dubbed the "one big, beautiful bill," which Senate Republicans advanced past a procedural hurdle on Saturday in a 51-49 party-line vote. In a June 3 post on X, Musk called the bill "a disgusting abomination." He intensified his criticism on Saturday, arguing on X that the legislation would "destroy millions of jobs and cause immense strategic harm to our country."

Low suggested that Musk’s opposition stems from personal grievances. "He has been humiliated," Low told Politico, implying that Musk’s public support for Trump-aligned initiatives, such as influencing Congress or backing right-wing judicial campaigns, may be superficial. "Elon might do all of that, but deep down, it’s over," Low added.

The bill, a 940-page Senate GOP proposal, faced delays after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., required clerks to read the entire document aloud on the Senate floor, stalling debate by approximately 16 hours. The Congressional Budget Office projects the legislation will add trillions to the nation’s $36.2 trillion national debt. All Republicans supported advancing the bill except Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Low warned that Musk’s influence among Trump’s supporters poses a political threat. "Elon has wooed enough of Trump’s supporters to be an actual threat politically," he told Politico. He urged Trump to consider adopting some of Musk’s policy positions to counter his influence. "He doesn’t realize the battle that he has on his hands, and one way to cut the support away from Elon is to actually adopt some of the things he is for," Low said.