The rivalry between Steve Bannon and Elon Musk exploded over the Fourth of July weekend, with both men exchanging blistering insults over politics, patriotism, and personal integrity.
Bannon, a former Trump advisor, used his War Room podcast to launch a furious attack on the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, accusing Musk of being dishonest, disloyal, and un-American. Referring to Musk’s new political movement—the America Party—Bannon questioned whether a “non-American” should be allowed to launch such a venture.
“Only a foreigner could do this,” Bannon said. “He’s got a poll about starting an American Party—but he’s not American, he’s South African. If we dig deep enough and prove that, he should be deported.”
Bannon’s comments drew backlash from across the political spectrum. One Trump supporter echoed Bannon’s sentiment, calling Musk “a snake,” while others in the MAGA movement pushed back against what they saw as extreme gatekeeping.
“So now we deport anyone who disagrees? That’s not the movement I signed up for,” one user posted.
Musk Strikes Back: “Drunken Slob”
Musk wasted little time firing back. In a scathing post on X, he branded Bannon a “fat, drunken slob” and called for him to be returned to prison.
“The fat, drunken slob called Bannon will go back to prison—and this time for a long time,” Musk wrote. “He has a lifetime of crime to pay for.”
The tech billionaire was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2022, but that hasn’t stopped Bannon and others from questioning his loyalty to the country. Bannon has also called for the cancellation of Musk’s government contracts and has repeatedly floated conspiracy theories about Musk’s influence over Trump and the broader conservative movement.
Old Allies, New Enemies
The clash marks a stunning reversal from earlier years when both men were aligned in supporting parts of Donald Trump’s agenda. Musk even briefly worked with the Trump administration before a falling out over the then-president’s controversial policies, including the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
While Bannon no longer holds an official role in Trump’s circle, he remains a vocal defender of the former president and continues to use his platform to push Trump’s agenda—and now, to attack anyone he views as a threat to it.
Musk’s America Party, announced just days ago, is seen by some as a challenge to Trump’s grip on conservative politics. The escalating war of words with Bannon suggests the fight for influence on the American right is far from over.
