Comedian Bill Maher delivered sharp commentary on the deteriorating relationship between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk during his Friday night show, coining a new celebrity-style nickname for the former political allies as their public feud reaches new heights.
During his opening monologue on Real Time With Bill Maher on June 7, 2025, the comedian compared the clash between the world’s richest man and most powerful man to a monster movie showdown. Maher described their conflict as resembling Godzilla versus King Kong, adding his own colorful commentary about their respective characteristics.
The host referenced famous celebrity couple nicknames like “Brangelina” for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and “Bennifer” for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, before unveiling his creation for Trump and Musk. Maher christened the pair “Elump,” suggesting their relationship had followed a similar trajectory to those high-profile Hollywood romances that ultimately crumbled.
Maher indicated that while many fans were shocked when celebrity couples like Brangelina ended, it was clear that the Trump-Musk alliance would meet the same fate. The comedian argued that signs of their falling out had been brewing for some time before becoming public.
The rift between Trump and Musk centers on significant policy disagreements, particularly regarding government spending. Musk had initially entered politics with the stated goal of reducing government bloat through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency, which eliminated thousands of federal positions and gutted key institutions under the banner of cutting wasteful public spending.
However, their relationship soured when the Republican Party crafted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive spending package that includes nearly $4 trillion in tax cuts and billions more for Trump’s mass deportation initiative. Musk began publicly criticizing the legislation last month as he prepared to leave his government position, viewing it as contradictory to his efficiency mission.
The feud escalated dramatically when Musk posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Trump was “in the Epstein files.” This bombshell accusation referenced Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein had moved in the same social circles as Trump during the 1980s and 1990s.
Trump appeared to address Musk’s accusation by reposting a favorable statement from David Schoen, Epstein’s former lawyer. Although Musk subsequently deleted his provocative post, the damage to their relationship appeared irreversible.
Maher characterized their ongoing conflict as a war going back and forth between the two prominent figures. The comedian joked that the winner of their feud would face Blake Lively, referencing the actress’s recent legal battle with “It Ends With Us” co-star Justin Baldoni that had dominated pop culture discussions.
The Trump-Musk relationship had been one of the most significant political partnerships of recent years. Musk spent substantial amounts to help elect Trump and took on a major government role aimed at reducing federal spending. Their alliance represented a convergence of political power and technological influence that many viewed as potentially transformative for American governance.
The public nature of their split has drawn widespread attention, particularly given both figures’ massive social media followings and influence. Trump has previously launched harsh attacks against critics, including Maher himself, whom he has accused of suffering from “Trump derangement syndrome” in past social media posts from September 2024.
Maher’s commentary reflects broader observations about the volatile nature of Trump’s political relationships and Musk’s evolving role in American politics. The comedian’s “Elump” nickname captures the intense but ultimately unstable nature of their partnership, drawing parallels to celebrity relationships that captivate public attention before ending in highly publicized breakups.
