Shortest Day in History as Earth's Rotation Unexpectedly Speeds Up

Scientists have warned that Wednesday could be the shortest day of your life as Earth's accelerating rotation is expected to move quicker than ever before.

They found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day.

This is because Earth's rotation has sped up in recent years, with scientists observing the phenomenon on atomic clocks in 2020 and 2022.

These clocks are incredibly accurate machines that keep time by measuring the vibrations of atoms.

Although the exact reason is still a mystery, scientists believe there could be several factors that are making Earth spin faster, including changes in the atmosphere, the melting of glaciers, motion in the Earth's core, and a weakening magnetic field.

Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day.

The fastest day recorded so far was one year ago on July 5, 2024, when Earth spun 1.66 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours.

While today's shortened day may seem insignificant, researchers have found that the time change can affect everything from satellite systems and GPS accuracy to how we measure time itself.


Scientists have found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day

Earth's rotation has never been perfect, as it shifts by tiny amounts throughout time, getting a few milliseconds faster or slower.

However, scientists didn't start keeping exact records of these changes until the 1970s.

For the latest estimates of Earth' spin, Graham Jones, an astrophysicist at the University of London, used information from the US Naval Observatory and international Earth rotation services.

Atomic clocks tracked the numbers, measuring what's called 'Length of Day,' or LOD. That's the time it takes Earth to rotate once, down to the millisecond.

Even tiny changes in day length matter. GPS, phone networks, and financial systems rely on split-second accuracy. A shift of just a few milliseconds can cause technical glitches.

Before this recent acceleration in Earth's spin, the planet was actually slowing down, due to the moon's gravitational pull, which has been stretching our days into the 24-hour cycle we now live by in modern times.

Geoscientist Stephen Meyers, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that as the moon moves further away, its changing gravitational impact on Earth would slowing make days incrementally longer.

Meyers predicted that days on our planet could eventually become 25 hours long, but noted that it would take about 200 million years.


Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day

As for why Earth has sped up since 2020, natural forces like climate change may be playing a role in the planet's spin.

Weather patterns like El Niño and the accelerated melting of glaciers in summer may literally be throwing the planet out of balance by a tiny degree.

Richard Holme, a geophysicist at the University of Liverpool, added: 'There is more land in the northern hemisphere than the south.'

'In northern summer, the trees get leaves, this means that mass is moved from the ground to above the ground — further away from the Earth's spin axis,' he told Live Science.

Basically, the rate of rotation of any moving body like Earth depends on its distribution of mass. It's similar to how a figure skater spins faster by pulling in their arms.

Another reason for this sudden change could be shifting molten layers in the core. Earth is not solid all the way through. Its core is made of hot, swirling liquid metal.

As that molten metal moves, it can change the planet's shape and balance.

Scientists are looking at all these pieces together, the moon's orbit, core activity, ocean flow, and wind patterns, to figure out what's going on.

Starting in 2020, Earth began breaking its records for the shortest day.

That year, July 19 came in 1.47 milliseconds short. On July 9, 2021, there was a 1.47 millisecond drop.

In 2022, Earth recorded its shortest day on June 30, shaving off 1.59 milliseconds from the usual 24 hours.

In 2023, the rotation slowed slightly, and no new records were set. In 2024, however, the speed picked up again. Several days broke the previous records, making it the year with the most consistently shorter days on record.

These estimates are based on past observations and computer models, and include systematic corrections and smoothing to account for natural fluctuations.

Right now, the world keeps time using Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. Sometimes we add a leap second to stay in sync with Earth's slow shifts.

If the Earth keeps rotating faster, experts may have to remove a second, called a negative leap second. It's never happened before.

Shortest Day in History as Earth's Rotation Unexpectedly Speeds Up

Scientists have warned that Wednesday could be the shortest day of your life as Earth's accelerating rotation is expected to move quicker than ever before.

They found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day.

This is because Earth's rotation has sped up in recent years, with scientists observing the phenomenon on atomic clocks in 2020 and 2022.

These clocks are incredibly accurate machines that keep time by measuring the vibrations of atoms.

Although the exact reason is still a mystery, scientists believe there could be several factors that are making Earth spin faster, including changes in the atmosphere, the melting of glaciers, motion in the Earth's core, and a weakening magnetic field.

Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day.

The fastest day recorded so far was one year ago on July 5, 2024, when Earth spun 1.66 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours.

While today's shortened day may seem insignificant, researchers have found that the time change can affect everything from satellite systems and GPS accuracy to how we measure time itself.


Scientists have found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day

Earth's rotation has never been perfect, as it shifts by tiny amounts throughout time, getting a few milliseconds faster or slower.

However, scientists didn't start keeping exact records of these changes until the 1970s.

For the latest estimates of Earth' spin, Graham Jones, an astrophysicist at the University of London, used information from the US Naval Observatory and international Earth rotation services.

Atomic clocks tracked the numbers, measuring what's called 'Length of Day,' or LOD. That's the time it takes Earth to rotate once, down to the millisecond.

Even tiny changes in day length matter. GPS, phone networks, and financial systems rely on split-second accuracy. A shift of just a few milliseconds can cause technical glitches.

Before this recent acceleration in Earth's spin, the planet was actually slowing down, due to the moon's gravitational pull, which has been stretching our days into the 24-hour cycle we now live by in modern times.

Geoscientist Stephen Meyers, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that as the moon moves further away, its changing gravitational impact on Earth would slowing make days incrementally longer.

Meyers predicted that days on our planet could eventually become 25 hours long, but noted that it would take about 200 million years.


Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day

As for why Earth has sped up since 2020, natural forces like climate change may be playing a role in the planet's spin.

Weather patterns like El Niño and the accelerated melting of glaciers in summer may literally be throwing the planet out of balance by a tiny degree.

Richard Holme, a geophysicist at the University of Liverpool, added: 'There is more land in the northern hemisphere than the south.'

'In northern summer, the trees get leaves, this means that mass is moved from the ground to above the ground — further away from the Earth's spin axis,' he told Live Science.

Basically, the rate of rotation of any moving body like Earth depends on its distribution of mass. It's similar to how a figure skater spins faster by pulling in their arms.

Another reason for this sudden change could be shifting molten layers in the core. Earth is not solid all the way through. Its core is made of hot, swirling liquid metal.

As that molten metal moves, it can change the planet's shape and balance.

Scientists are looking at all these pieces together, the moon's orbit, core activity, ocean flow, and wind patterns, to figure out what's going on.

Starting in 2020, Earth began breaking its records for the shortest day.

That year, July 19 came in 1.47 milliseconds short. On July 9, 2021, there was a 1.47 millisecond drop.

In 2022, Earth recorded its shortest day on June 30, shaving off 1.59 milliseconds from the usual 24 hours.

In 2023, the rotation slowed slightly, and no new records were set. In 2024, however, the speed picked up again. Several days broke the previous records, making it the year with the most consistently shorter days on record.

These estimates are based on past observations and computer models, and include systematic corrections and smoothing to account for natural fluctuations.

Right now, the world keeps time using Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. Sometimes we add a leap second to stay in sync with Earth's slow shifts.

If the Earth keeps rotating faster, experts may have to remove a second, called a negative leap second. It's never happened before.

Shortest Day in History as Earth's Rotation Unexpectedly Speeds Up

Scientists have warned that Wednesday could be the shortest day of your life as Earth's accelerating rotation is expected to move quicker than ever before.

They found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day.

This is because Earth's rotation has sped up in recent years, with scientists observing the phenomenon on atomic clocks in 2020 and 2022.

These clocks are incredibly accurate machines that keep time by measuring the vibrations of atoms.

Although the exact reason is still a mystery, scientists believe there could be several factors that are making Earth spin faster, including changes in the atmosphere, the melting of glaciers, motion in the Earth's core, and a weakening magnetic field.

Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day.

The fastest day recorded so far was one year ago on July 5, 2024, when Earth spun 1.66 milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours.

While today's shortened day may seem insignificant, researchers have found that the time change can affect everything from satellite systems and GPS accuracy to how we measure time itself.


Scientists have found that three days this summer, July 9, July 22, and August 5, are expected to be between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard day

Earth's rotation has never been perfect, as it shifts by tiny amounts throughout time, getting a few milliseconds faster or slower.

However, scientists didn't start keeping exact records of these changes until the 1970s.

For the latest estimates of Earth' spin, Graham Jones, an astrophysicist at the University of London, used information from the US Naval Observatory and international Earth rotation services.

Atomic clocks tracked the numbers, measuring what's called 'Length of Day,' or LOD. That's the time it takes Earth to rotate once, down to the millisecond.

Even tiny changes in day length matter. GPS, phone networks, and financial systems rely on split-second accuracy. A shift of just a few milliseconds can cause technical glitches.

Before this recent acceleration in Earth's spin, the planet was actually slowing down, due to the moon's gravitational pull, which has been stretching our days into the 24-hour cycle we now live by in modern times.

Geoscientist Stephen Meyers, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that as the moon moves further away, its changing gravitational impact on Earth would slowing make days incrementally longer.

Meyers predicted that days on our planet could eventually become 25 hours long, but noted that it would take about 200 million years.


Earth normally takes 24 hours, or exactly 86,400 seconds, to complete one full rotation, which is called a solar day

As for why Earth has sped up since 2020, natural forces like climate change may be playing a role in the planet's spin.

Weather patterns like El Niño and the accelerated melting of glaciers in summer may literally be throwing the planet out of balance by a tiny degree.

Richard Holme, a geophysicist at the University of Liverpool, added: 'There is more land in the northern hemisphere than the south.'

'In northern summer, the trees get leaves, this means that mass is moved from the ground to above the ground — further away from the Earth's spin axis,' he told Live Science.

Basically, the rate of rotation of any moving body like Earth depends on its distribution of mass. It's similar to how a figure skater spins faster by pulling in their arms.

Another reason for this sudden change could be shifting molten layers in the core. Earth is not solid all the way through. Its core is made of hot, swirling liquid metal.

As that molten metal moves, it can change the planet's shape and balance.

Scientists are looking at all these pieces together, the moon's orbit, core activity, ocean flow, and wind patterns, to figure out what's going on.

Starting in 2020, Earth began breaking its records for the shortest day.

That year, July 19 came in 1.47 milliseconds short. On July 9, 2021, there was a 1.47 millisecond drop.

In 2022, Earth recorded its shortest day on June 30, shaving off 1.59 milliseconds from the usual 24 hours.

In 2023, the rotation slowed slightly, and no new records were set. In 2024, however, the speed picked up again. Several days broke the previous records, making it the year with the most consistently shorter days on record.

These estimates are based on past observations and computer models, and include systematic corrections and smoothing to account for natural fluctuations.

Right now, the world keeps time using Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. Sometimes we add a leap second to stay in sync with Earth's slow shifts.

If the Earth keeps rotating faster, experts may have to remove a second, called a negative leap second. It's never happened before.

Elon Musk Forms New ‘America Party’ After Feud With Trump

Elon Musk says he is forming the ‘America Party’ as he feuds with Trump over the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party amid his ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Musk asked his 221.7 million X followers to vote in a poll deciding whether he should form the new “America Party” on Friday. The tech mogul first threatened to form a party earlier this week if Congress passed Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which he calls the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The billionaire has argued that the legislation, which the president signed into law on Friday, will increase the deficit by trillions.

After 65 percent of respondents voted “yes” on his poll, Musk says he’s following through.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk wrote Saturday afternoon. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”


Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party, in part due to the approval of Trump’s sweeping spending bill

“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he added.

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. The House passed the bill on Thursday, and Trump signed it into law during a Military Family Picnic celebration for Independence Day.

The bill provides sweeping tax cuts — particularly to wealthy Americans — while curbing access to Medicaid and food assistance programs for millions of people. The legislation also provides billions more for defense and immigration enforcement.

Musk, once known as Trump’s “First Buddy,” sparked a public feud with the president last month over the bill, arguing it will increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion.


Elon Musk was once known as President Donald Trump's 'First Buddy.' But now, the two are in a heated, public feud over the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote of Trump’s bill on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, DOGE laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants.

Musk doubled down on June 5, calling the legislation the “Big Ugly Bill.” The billionaire also flirted with the idea of forming a new political party, but didn’t offer specifics.

Musk wrote: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”

Trump hit back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of going “crazy” because he “took away his [electric vehicle] mandate.” Less than an hour later, Musk escalated the feud and alleged that Trump appears in the unreleased Epstein Files.

“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”


Elon Musk accused President Donald Trump of being named in the Epstein Files amid their public fall-out last month

The pair exchanged a few more jabs until June 6, when tensions seemed to ease. Musk expressed “regret” on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had “no hard feelings” toward Musk.

The peace didn’t last long, though. This week, Musk pledged to fund primary challengers running against Republicans who supported the bill.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” the billionaire wrote on Monday.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added.

Nearly every Republican in Congress voted to pass the bill, with just three senators and two representatives joining Democrats in voting against it.

Trump responded by threatening to cut of the billions of dollars in federal subsidies Musk’s companies receive. The president also threatened to “take a look at” deporting Elon Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.

Elon Musk Forms New ‘America Party’ After Feud With Trump

Elon Musk says he is forming the ‘America Party’ as he feuds with Trump over the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party amid his ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Musk asked his 221.7 million X followers to vote in a poll deciding whether he should form the new “America Party” on Friday. The tech mogul first threatened to form a party earlier this week if Congress passed Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which he calls the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The billionaire has argued that the legislation, which the president signed into law on Friday, will increase the deficit by trillions.

After 65 percent of respondents voted “yes” on his poll, Musk says he’s following through.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk wrote Saturday afternoon. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”


Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party, in part due to the approval of Trump’s sweeping spending bill

“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he added.

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. The House passed the bill on Thursday, and Trump signed it into law during a Military Family Picnic celebration for Independence Day.

The bill provides sweeping tax cuts — particularly to wealthy Americans — while curbing access to Medicaid and food assistance programs for millions of people. The legislation also provides billions more for defense and immigration enforcement.

Musk, once known as Trump’s “First Buddy,” sparked a public feud with the president last month over the bill, arguing it will increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion.


Elon Musk was once known as President Donald Trump's 'First Buddy.' But now, the two are in a heated, public feud over the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote of Trump’s bill on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, DOGE laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants.

Musk doubled down on June 5, calling the legislation the “Big Ugly Bill.” The billionaire also flirted with the idea of forming a new political party, but didn’t offer specifics.

Musk wrote: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”

Trump hit back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of going “crazy” because he “took away his [electric vehicle] mandate.” Less than an hour later, Musk escalated the feud and alleged that Trump appears in the unreleased Epstein Files.

“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”


Elon Musk accused President Donald Trump of being named in the Epstein Files amid their public fall-out last month

The pair exchanged a few more jabs until June 6, when tensions seemed to ease. Musk expressed “regret” on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had “no hard feelings” toward Musk.

The peace didn’t last long, though. This week, Musk pledged to fund primary challengers running against Republicans who supported the bill.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” the billionaire wrote on Monday.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added.

Nearly every Republican in Congress voted to pass the bill, with just three senators and two representatives joining Democrats in voting against it.

Trump responded by threatening to cut of the billions of dollars in federal subsidies Musk’s companies receive. The president also threatened to “take a look at” deporting Elon Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.

Elon Musk Forms New ‘America Party’ After Feud With Trump

Elon Musk says he is forming the ‘America Party’ as he feuds with Trump over the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party amid his ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Musk asked his 221.7 million X followers to vote in a poll deciding whether he should form the new “America Party” on Friday. The tech mogul first threatened to form a party earlier this week if Congress passed Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which he calls the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The billionaire has argued that the legislation, which the president signed into law on Friday, will increase the deficit by trillions.

After 65 percent of respondents voted “yes” on his poll, Musk says he’s following through.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk wrote Saturday afternoon. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”


Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party, in part due to the approval of Trump’s sweeping spending bill

“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he added.

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. The House passed the bill on Thursday, and Trump signed it into law during a Military Family Picnic celebration for Independence Day.

The bill provides sweeping tax cuts — particularly to wealthy Americans — while curbing access to Medicaid and food assistance programs for millions of people. The legislation also provides billions more for defense and immigration enforcement.

Musk, once known as Trump’s “First Buddy,” sparked a public feud with the president last month over the bill, arguing it will increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion.


Elon Musk was once known as President Donald Trump's 'First Buddy.' But now, the two are in a heated, public feud over the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote of Trump’s bill on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, DOGE laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants.

Musk doubled down on June 5, calling the legislation the “Big Ugly Bill.” The billionaire also flirted with the idea of forming a new political party, but didn’t offer specifics.

Musk wrote: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”

Trump hit back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of going “crazy” because he “took away his [electric vehicle] mandate.” Less than an hour later, Musk escalated the feud and alleged that Trump appears in the unreleased Epstein Files.

“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”


Elon Musk accused President Donald Trump of being named in the Epstein Files amid their public fall-out last month

The pair exchanged a few more jabs until June 6, when tensions seemed to ease. Musk expressed “regret” on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had “no hard feelings” toward Musk.

The peace didn’t last long, though. This week, Musk pledged to fund primary challengers running against Republicans who supported the bill.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” the billionaire wrote on Monday.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added.

Nearly every Republican in Congress voted to pass the bill, with just three senators and two representatives joining Democrats in voting against it.

Trump responded by threatening to cut of the billions of dollars in federal subsidies Musk’s companies receive. The president also threatened to “take a look at” deporting Elon Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.

Elon Musk Forms New ‘America Party’ After Feud With Trump

Elon Musk says he is forming the ‘America Party’ as he feuds with Trump over the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party amid his ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Musk asked his 221.7 million X followers to vote in a poll deciding whether he should form the new “America Party” on Friday. The tech mogul first threatened to form a party earlier this week if Congress passed Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, which he calls the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

The billionaire has argued that the legislation, which the president signed into law on Friday, will increase the deficit by trillions.

After 65 percent of respondents voted “yes” on his poll, Musk says he’s following through.

“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it,” Musk wrote Saturday afternoon. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.”


Elon Musk says he has formed a new political party, in part due to the approval of Trump’s sweeping spending bill

“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom,” he added.

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” passed in the Senate with a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday. The House passed the bill on Thursday, and Trump signed it into law during a Military Family Picnic celebration for Independence Day.

The bill provides sweeping tax cuts — particularly to wealthy Americans — while curbing access to Medicaid and food assistance programs for millions of people. The legislation also provides billions more for defense and immigration enforcement.

Musk, once known as Trump’s “First Buddy,” sparked a public feud with the president last month over the bill, arguing it will increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion.


Elon Musk was once known as President Donald Trump's 'First Buddy.' But now, the two are in a heated, public feud over the president's 'Big, Beautiful Bill'

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote of Trump’s bill on June 3. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”

Musk spent several months this year leading the Department of Government Efficiency’s efforts to slash government spending. Under his leadership, DOGE laid off hundreds of thousands of federal employees, hollowed out several agencies and terminated thousands of government contracts and grants.

Musk doubled down on June 5, calling the legislation the “Big Ugly Bill.” The billionaire also flirted with the idea of forming a new political party, but didn’t offer specifics.

Musk wrote: “Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?”

Trump hit back on Truth Social, accusing Musk of going “crazy” because he “took away his [electric vehicle] mandate.” Less than an hour later, Musk escalated the feud and alleged that Trump appears in the unreleased Epstein Files.

“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk wrote. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”


Elon Musk accused President Donald Trump of being named in the Epstein Files amid their public fall-out last month

The pair exchanged a few more jabs until June 6, when tensions seemed to ease. Musk expressed “regret” on June 11 for the posts he made about the president, while Trump revealed he had “no hard feelings” toward Musk.

The peace didn’t last long, though. This week, Musk pledged to fund primary challengers running against Republicans who supported the bill.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” the billionaire wrote on Monday.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added.

Nearly every Republican in Congress voted to pass the bill, with just three senators and two representatives joining Democrats in voting against it.

Trump responded by threatening to cut of the billions of dollars in federal subsidies Musk’s companies receive. The president also threatened to “take a look at” deporting Elon Musk to South Africa, where he was born and raised for several years.

Trump Threatens 10% Tariff for ‘Anti-American’ BRICS Policies

President Donald Trump said he would put an additional 10% tariff on any country aligning themselves with “the Anti-American policies of BRICS,” injecting further uncertainty into global trade as the US continues to negotiate levies with many trading partners.

“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff,” Trump said Sunday night in a Truth Social post. “There will be no exceptions to this policy.”

BRICS, a grouping of nations that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, held a summit over the weekend, where leaders condemned US and Israeli attacks on Iran and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to withdraw troops from the Gaza Strip. They urged a “just and lasting” resolution to conflicts across the Middle East. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who attended.

Trump’s post didn’t specify which policies he considers “Anti-American,” nor did it provide details on when any of those tariffs might be imposed.

“Trump’s comments are a warning shot for emerging market nations looking to go down the BRICS alignment path,” said Mingze Wu, a trader at StoneX Financial Inc. in Singapore, adding that they’re likely in response to what BRICS said about Gaza.

Major US trading partners are racing to secure trade agreements or lobby for extra time ahead of the July 9 deadline. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that some nations without deals in place could have the option of a three-week extension to negotiate, with the levies set to take effect on Aug. 1.

In a joint statement released Sunday, leaders gathered in Brazil agreed to denounce military strikes against Iran, a BRICS member, since June 13, when Israel began attacks that culminated with US airstrikes nine days later.

The 10-member bloc of emerging-market nations also expressed “grave concern about the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” — citing Israeli attacks and the obstruction of the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, something Israel denies — while calling for a permanent and unconditional ceasefire, along with the release of all hostages.

Chinese Premier Li said BRICS countries should take the lead in advancing reforms in global governance and championing the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

“Today’s world is more turbulent, with unilateralism and protectionism on the rise,” Li said. “China is willing to work with BRICS countries to promote global governance in a more just, reasonable, efficient and orderly direction.”

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs didn’t immediately respond to a request seeking comment on Trump’s latest post. India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry declined to comment.

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs spokesperson Haryo Limanseto said the government has “no comment” specifically on Trump’s remarks regarding additional tariffs on BRICS countries. “The team is still working. Hopefully Indonesia and the US will find the best solution,” he said.

Trump has also previously threatened to slap 100% levies on BRICS if they ditch the US dollar in bilateral trade. The pushback, in turn, has spurred interest in developing local payment systems and other instruments that can facilitate commerce and investment between the nations.

On Sunday, BRICS leaders agreed to continue talks on a cross-border payment system for trade and investment — a project they’ve been discussing for a decade, though progress has been slow.