Elon Musk and Donald Trump were once political partners – sharing praise, power and ice-cream parties. Now the pair have been trading insults on their own social media networks.

In what started with Musk’s opposition to the president’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”, that proposes extensive tax cuts, the feud has sparked threats that could ground NASA missions and blow holes in the US federal budget.

Today, tech and power reporter for The Guardian, Nick Robins-Early, on the break-up and the dangers of handing critical services to a single billionaire.

 

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Guest: Tech and power reporter for The Guardian, Nick Robins-Early.

Photo: EPA / Will Oliver

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