Sat Jul 05 20:00:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the text you provided, along with a brief summary of the key points:
**Summary:**
Elon Musk and Donald Trump are feuding again, putting Musk’s companies, particularly SpaceX and Tesla, and their substantial government contracts at risk. The spat, sparked by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s fiscal policies, has already impacted Tesla’s stock price and Musk’s personal wealth. The situation raises concerns about the future of SpaceX’s lucrative government contracts, essential for its space exploration and defense missions. While some analysts predict a short-lived conflict due to mutual dependence, Musk’s potential foray into politics further complicates the relationship and raises conflict-of-interest questions.
**News Article:**
**Musk-Trump Feud Reignites, Jeopardizing Billions in Government Contracts**
**By Rob Wile and Steve Kopack, NBC News**
NEW YORK – The already tumultuous relationship between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump has flared up again, casting a shadow over Musk’s business empire and the billions of dollars in government contracts held by companies like SpaceX and Tesla.
The renewed conflict, triggered by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s fiscal policies, has sent ripples through the financial markets. Tesla shares took a hit on Tuesday, dropping over 4% as investors grew wary of the potential fallout. The stock, while recovering from earlier lows, remains down significantly year-to-date.
The feud directly threatens SpaceX, which relies heavily on government contracts, particularly from NASA for the Artemis program and the Department of Defense for satellite launches. Bloomberg Government data shows that SpaceX and Tesla have received $22.5 billion in federal unclassified contracts since fiscal year 2000. The Washington Post puts the figure for SpaceX alone at close to $38 billion, with a staggering $6.3 billion awarded in 2024.
The dispute has also impacted Musk’s personal wealth, which has dipped from a high of nearly half a trillion dollars after Trump’s election win to $400 billion, though he remains the world’s richest individual.
The spat first erupted publicly last month after Musk stepped down from his special government employee role and criticized a Republican tax cut bill. Trump responded by threatening to “terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts.”
While the situation briefly cooled after some public appeals for calm, Musk’s recent discussions about launching a new political party to address U.S. fiscal imbalances have reignited tensions. While ineligible to run for office himself due to being born in South Africa, Musk’s potential involvement in politics raises immediate conflict-of-interest concerns for any candidate he backs.
Some analysts believe the current conflict will be short-lived, given the mutual dependence between Musk’s companies and the government. However, the long-term implications remain uncertain, particularly for SpaceX, which plays a vital role in U.S. space exploration and national security. The situation continues to develop and is being closely watched by investors, policymakers, and the aerospace industry.
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