The staggering and exceedingly public rupture in the world’s most consequential and unprecedented partnership was a long time coming. But the surreal state of suspended animation that consumed Washington as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk traded escalating blows on social media obscured a 48-hour period that illustrated profoundly high-stakes moment for the White House.

Musk ratcheted up his rhetoric against the legislation this week, branding it a “disgusting abomination” before attacking Trump directly, calling for him to be impeached, threatening to start a rival party, and suggesting he had links with the disgraced financier and child trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

As tensions escalate between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO warned that Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" will trigger an economic recession. It comes as the Congressional Budget Office reports that Trump's tariffs plan would reduce the deficit but shrink the economy.