Musk vs. Trump: How Their Feud Is Stressing Out Your Mind & Wallet

Due to this being a health-related newsletter, I will pass on expressing commentary on the political aspect of the public feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Instead, I’ll focus on the mental anguish this causes the American people like you and me.

The feud between the two billionaires, and arguably the two most famous men on Earth, escalated dramatically on June 5 as the two exchanged heated barbs over social media and in public statements.

Trump, via Truth Social, threatened to terminate government subsidies and contracts for Musk’s companies, stating, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!” 

Musk fired back on X, calling Trump’s spending bill a “disgusting abomination” and alleging, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” while also making unverified claims about Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Musk said that Trump is listed on the Epstein file list, and thus the reason why the files have not been released by the White House as promised. Musk said the truth will come out soon.

Trump responded, calling Musk “CRAZY” and expressing disappointment, saying, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised.” 

Elon retweeted a post from another X account suggesting Trump should be impeached and replaced by VP Vance. Musk also tweeted a video of Trump from decades ago, showing the real estate titan socializing with Epstein amid young woman dancing at a party.

This clash, rooted in disputes over EV tax credits, the Big Beautiful Bill, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) policies, has sent shockwaves through financial markets and the American psyche.

The economic fallout was swift and severe. 
Tesla’s stock plummeted 16% on June 5, wiping out over $150 billion in market value, dropping the company’s valuation below $1 trillion to roughly $900 billion. Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social, also suffered, with shares falling more than 8% on the same day, compounding a 41% decline year-to-date. There was no business-reason for these drops — meaning, the companies didn’t announce bad earnings or forecast warning. These drops were due to two men sparring on social media like teenagers. The price for Americans to pay for this is huge! These stock drops hit hard, as many folks have tied their life savings and 401(k) plans to the two stocks. Tesla, a popular holding in retirement portfolios, saw investors lose significant value in a matter of minutes, with no warning, threatening financial security for those nearing retirement, currently retired, or relying on growth for future stability. Similarly, Trump Media’s decline eroded wealth for supporters and investors who backed the president’s venture, amplifying fears about economic instability.

Then there is the fallout for the folks who work for Musk, and for Truth Social. Will the stock drops cause layoffs at those companies in both the short and long terms? The same can be asked of the Trump threat to take away Musk’s contracts. If the contracts are pulled over a social media fight, think about how many people won’t be able to pay their bills — the amount of children placed in stressful households — the downsides are huge.

This feud is both childish and damaging. Innocent people like you and me who simply want to live our lives without DC being in chaos, should not be weathering this sort of storm. Personally, I am stressed today because I hold Tesla stock in my retirement account. Why should I have to stress and worry over an asinine battle that is both useless and sophomoric; it’s irresponsible of both men to do what they did.

This financial turmoil, coupled with the public squabbling of two prominent figures, is taking a psychological toll. The sight of the president and a key business leader trading insults—Trump on Truth Social and Musk on X—has left many Americans feeling depressed and disillusioned. A 2025 APA survey notes that political conflict in leadership heightens stress, with 60% of respondents reporting increased anxiety when public figures clash openly. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2016 offers a parallel: post-election, self-reported poor mental health days rose from 3.35 to 3.85 per month in politically divided regions, with depression rates climbing. Today, the Musk-Trump feud, combined with uncertainty over DOGE’s job cuts and policy shifts, fuels a sense of helplessness. People feel betrayed by leaders they once saw as unified, eroding trust and hope.

The combination of depleted savings, shaky 401(k)s, and a divisive public spectacle is driving stress and depression. Mental health experts urge limiting media exposure and seeking support to cope with this unprecedented strain on the nation’s well-being.

I hope these two can get their acts together. They are both talented leaders — they should start acting like it.

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