The low-simmering drama between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk over the past week over Musk's opposition to Trump's budget bill exploded into white-hot war on Thursday afternoon, with Trump threatening to revoke Musk's billions of dollars in subsidies and federal contracts and Musk casually asserting that Trump is a child sex predator.
It's set off a frenzy in Trump's universe, with MAGA supporters scrambling to take sides.
As bedlam has unfolded, Trump critics have been dancing with glee on social media.
"Holy s--- they are going nuclear," wrote former Wisconsin Democratic Party digital director Bhavik Lathia.
"Happy Musk vs Trump day for all those celebrating," wrote former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan.
"He’s gonna threaten to deport Elon next," wrote Fox News' resident Democratic co-host Jessica Tarlov.
"Every Pride Month, there must be one messy breakup. I don't make the rules. But the proof is in the pudding today," wrote Georgia State law professor Anthony Michael Kreis.
Some other commenters mocked Musk's assertion that Trump is "in the Epstein files" and that's why they can't be released in full — a clear implication, albeit with no evidence, that Trump was involved in the deceased wealth manager's child sex trafficking operation.
"Why did @libsoftiktok lie to us, Elon?" wrote former congressional candidate Christopher Hale, posting an image of far-right activist Chaya Raichik emerging from the White House holding an "Epstein Files" binder, a recent stunt carried out by Trump's Justice Department.
"Mutually Assured Destruction?" wrote New York University law professor and Just Security editor Ryan Goodman.
While many laughed at the feud, some also found it to be an unsettling sign of trouble in the American political system.
"I'm genuinely entertained," wrote MSNBC and Bulwark commentator Sam Stein. "I'm also deeply frightened that the president is engaged in this."
"I don’t care what political side you’re on. Donald Trump is officially off the rails, threatening Elon Musk," wrote podcaster Brian Krassenstein. "This is blatant extortion."
