Elon Musk has gone "completely off the rails", Donald Trump has said, in a bitter slap-down to the tech tycoon after he set up a new political party.
On Saturday, Musk declared that the "America Party is formed" in a bid to "give you back your freedom".
He later hailed his insurgent movement as necessary "to fight the Republican/Democrat uniparty".
"When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy," the South African fumed.
Musk later hailed his insurgent movement as necessary 'to fight the Republican/Democrat uniparty'
REUTERS
But now, Trump has hit back, rattling off a list of barbs and accusations at the Tesla chief and world's richest man - a former ally of his.
"I am saddened to watch Elon Musk go completely 'off the rails', essentially becoming a train wreck over the past five weeks," the President said.
"He even wants to start a third political party, despite the fact that they have never succeeded in the United States - the system seems not designed for them.
"The one thing third parties are good for is the creation of complete and total disruption and chaos, and we have enough of that with the radical left Democrats, who have lost their confidence and their minds!
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'The one thing third parties are good for is the creation of complete and total disruption and chaos,' the President blasted
GETTY"Republicans, on the other hand, are a smooth running 'machine', that just passed the biggest bill of its kind in the history of our country."
Trump added that, "unfortunately for Elon", the so-called "big, beautiful bill" has killed off America's controversial electric vehicle mandate, which "would have forced everyone to buy an electric car in a short period of time".
The Commander-in-Chief had vowed to ditch the Joe Biden-era EV mandate - a series of incentives designed to push US carmakers and drivers towards electric cars like Musk's Teslas - just hours after being sworn into the Oval Office for a second time in January.
And he reminded Musk of his long-held opposition to the mandate in his vicious attack on Sunday evening.
"When Elon gave me his total and unquestioned endorsement, I asked him whether or not he knew that I was going to terminate the EV Mandate - It was in every speech I made, and in every conversation I had," Trump wrote.
"He said he had no problems with that - I was very surprised!"
Trump also appeared to accuse Musk of pushing to appoint 'one of his close friends', billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, as Nasa chief
REUTERS
Trump also appeared to accuse Musk of pushing to appoint "one of his close friends", billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, as Nasa chief.
"Elon asked that one of his close friends run Nasa and, while I thought his friend was very good, I was surprised to learn that he was a blue-blooded Democrat, who had never contributed to a Republican before. Elon probably was, also," the President jabbed.
"I also thought it inappropriate that a very close friend of Elon, who was in the space business, run Nasa, when Nasa is such a big part of Elon's corporate life.
"My Number One charge is to protect the American public," Trump's lengthy attack concluded.
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