The public feud between former President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk took another strange turn this week, with Trump dismissing the Tesla CEO as someone who has “lost his mind” while downplaying the significance of their ongoing spat. What began as a policy disagreement has spiraled into personal attacks, conspiracy theories, and even the suggestion that Trump might sell his Tesla car in protest.

The conflict erupted after Musk criticized Trump’s recent spending bill, which narrowly passed the House of Representatives last month. The legislation, which Trump has championed as a major achievement, extends tax cuts, tightens federal benefits, and raises the debt ceiling but could also add hundreds of billions to the national deficit. When Trump expressed disappointment in Musk’s opposition, the tech billionaire fired back, claiming Trump was “ungrateful” and suggesting he wouldn’t have won the 2020 election without his support.

From there, the dispute escalated rapidly. Trump spent much of the past 24 hours giving interviews where he mocked Musk’s mental state, telling Fox News that “Elon has totally lost it.” He also brushed off Musk’s suggestion floated in an online poll that he might back a new political party. Meanwhile, Musk has kept his public responses short, only replying “Exactly” to a post claiming he had criticized Congress rather than Trump directly.

But the feud took an even darker turn when Musk, without offering evidence, hinted that Trump might appear in unreleased government documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. The implication triggered immediate backlash, with Democratic lawmakers demanding transparency around any Epstein-related files. Representatives Robert Garcia and Stephen Lynch released a joint statement calling for accountability, saying any attempt to hide documents to protect Trump would require “intense scrutiny.”

The White House quickly dismissed Musk’s claim as “an unfortunate episode,” with a source close to the administration telling the BBC that the allegation was “nothing new.” Still, the remark added fuel to an already fiery clash between two of the most powerful men in America.

Trump, who once counted Musk as an ally, now seems determined to minimize the fight at least publicly. Despite earlier reports that the two might speak directly, the White House confirmed no such call is planned. Instead, Trump appears content to mock Musk from a distance while focusing on his political agenda.

Meanwhile, Musk’s critics within Trump’s circle are seizing the moment. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, a longtime Musk skeptic, called the billionaire’s behavior a “point of no return,” particularly after Musk suggested Trump should be impeached and replaced by Senator JD Vance. “This is outrageous,” Bannon said in an interview. “It has crossed the line, and there’s no going back.”

The fallout could have real-world consequences beyond just heated rhetoric. Musk’s companies Tesla, SpaceX, and Starlink hold major government contracts, and Trump’s reported consideration of selling his Tesla sends a symbolic message. More importantly, the feud comes at a delicate time, with Trump’s spending bill facing a tough Senate vote and renewed scrutiny over Epstein’s connections to powerful figures.

For now, neither man seems willing to back down. Trump is content to paint Musk as unstable, while Musk continues to provoke with cryptic posts and explosive claims. What started as a political disagreement has become a full-blown spectacle, revealing just how quickly alliances can shatter in the high-stakes worlds of business and politics.

One thing is clear: this feud isn’t ending anytime soon. And with both men commanding massive influence, the fallout could extend far beyond just hurt feelings.