Tesla Stock Falls 14% Amid Trump-Musk Feud

Tensions between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump have escalated, resulting in a 14.3% drop in Tesla shares on Thursday, wiping out roughly $150 billion in market value.

The Details: The dispute, which played out publicly on social media, began with policy disagreements and quickly morphed into personal insults. As the conflict developed, Trump threatened to cut off government contracts to Musk's companies, including SpaceX. Musk fired back in response to this threat, exacerbating the situation.

For Context: The clash sparked fear among investors about the potential for increased regulation of Tesla, which is planning to expand into self-driving and robotics. The company had hoped for a more relaxed regulatory approach under the Trump administration. While Tesla stocks dropped significantly on Thursday, they were still 60% higher than a year ago.

Key Quotes: "This must start to be calmed down," said analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, calling the situation "jaw-dropping and a shock to the market".

How the Media Covered It: BBC News (Center bias) focused on how the falling out played out in real-time and the potential implications for Musk's companies. CNN Business (Lean Left) detailed the possible damage Trump could inflict on Musk's business interests, pointing to the threat of investigations from agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Meanwhile, Fox Business (Lean Right) highlighted the nightmare scenario for investors, emphasizing Musk's criticism of a tax cut package being advanced by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.

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