“Elon Musk Is a True South African”: Mzansi Reacts to Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Public Falling Out
It is trouble in paradise for US president and businessman Donald Trump and South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, as the pair, known to be a close alliance in the political and business spheres, have seemingly fallen out. Tensions have been fomenting between Musk and Trump since the beginning of the week with the founder of X Corp. slamming the One Big Beautiful Bill, with the two trading shots publicly.
The bromance between the TESLA mastermind and the Republican leader has been evident for the world to behold for some time now, with the relationship framing the both of them constantly being seen together at the Oval Office and at political rallies. Their most recent showing was on the much anticipated, alleged white-farmer-murder meeting between president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa with his delegates and billionaire Johann Rupert.
Elon Musk and Donald Trump at the Oval Office | SUPPLIED
Things began to sour between the two when Musk criticised the One Big Beautiful Bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination”, to which Trump retaliated in kind by threatening to put the sword to Elon’s government subsidies and contracts, which would adversely affect Tesla and SpaceX.
Not taking kindly to this, Elon went off on X, throwing accusations in the air of Trump being included in the Epstein files.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Elon posted on the 5th of June 2025.
With the feud now moving at full tilt, Elon has been doubling down on his stance of Trump allegedly being in the infamous Epstein list, reposting content on X of things which suggest that Trump is guilty of the things he has accused him of. In addition, he has also alluded that the 47th resident of the White House should be impeached.
As things continue to escalate, South Africans have taken to X to poke fun at the falling out, with tweeps rejoicing that the relationship was hanging by a thread, while others made jokes about Cyril’s covert influence.
Chris Excel quipped that Elon is a trueborn South African because of his ability to reveal secrets, saying: “Elon Must[SIC] [is] a true South African. This thin of dropping files during an argument is a skill we born with.”
Ora commented on the 49 Afrikaners who took up refugee status in the U.S., saying, “49 Afrikaaner refugees watching the fight between Trump and Elon Musk.”
@Am_Blujay posted a GIF of Ramaphosa laughing to himself, saying, “I don’t know where president Ramaphosa is but I know this is him right now watching this Trump-Elon Fight.”