Tensions between former President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk have erupted once again, this time over what some are calling the “Texas Flood Bill.” Reports indicate that Trump’s newly proposed infrastructure legislation, aimed at boosting domestic energy production and deregulating certain environmental protections, is being blamed by critics for exacerbating the historic flooding that has devastated parts of Texas this week.
The argument reportedly began early this morning when Musk posted a series of pointed comments on X (formerly Twitter), directly accusing Trump’s policies of “turning Texas into a waterlogged disaster zone.” According to Musk, the new bill rolled back critical safeguards designed to protect wetlands and control urban sprawl near floodplains. He argued that such moves have worsened the state’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, which scientists say are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change.
“Disaster made worse by bad policy,” Musk wrote to his 200 million followers. “We can’t deregulate nature. You can’t just sign away the consequences of ignoring basic environmental protections.”
Trump, never one to back down from a public feud — especially with Musk, whom he has called both “a genius” and “an unstable egomaniac” in the past — fired back with his own statement at a campaign rally in Florida. Trump dismissed Musk’s comments as “clueless tech nonsense” and accused the Tesla and SpaceX founder of “trying to play scientist when he should be focusing on cars that don’t crash themselves.”
“Texas has had floods before, folks, long before Donald Trump,” he said to cheers from supporters. “What Elon doesn’t understand is that we’re bringing back American energy, we’re putting people back to work, and we’re not letting radical green nonsense destroy our economy.”
Environmental activists, however, appear to be siding with Musk on this issue. Several Texas-based conservation groups have issued statements claiming that recent policy shifts have weakened the state’s natural flood defenses. They point to rapid development in vulnerable low-lying areas and a lack of investment in resilient infrastructure as key factors that turned last week’s heavy rains into a catastrophic event.
The floods have so far claimed at least 15 lives, displaced thousands, and caused billions in property damage. Dozens of neighborhoods in Houston, Dallas, and surrounding areas remain underwater, with emergency responders stretched to their limits. Many residents blame state and federal leaders for failing to invest in long-promised flood control projects.
For Musk, the argument is not only political but personal. Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin narrowly avoided major flooding, but several suppliers and local employees have reported significant losses. Musk also mentioned in his posts that SpaceX’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica has faced repeated storm threats in recent years, which he says highlight the need for stronger climate resilience measures.
Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters argue that the former president is being unfairly blamed for what they call “an act of God.” They claim that the floods would have happened regardless of any bill and accuse Musk of using the tragedy to push his own renewable energy agenda.
As the debate rages on social media, political analysts suggest this spat could play a role in the upcoming election cycle. Musk, once a somewhat neutral figure, has become increasingly vocal on political issues, drawing praise and scorn from both sides of the aisle. Trump, eyeing a return to the White House, seems determined to use the conflict to reinforce his populist stance against what he labels “woke billionaires.”
For Texans struggling to recover, however, the blame game offers little comfort. Many say they just want real solutions — not sound bites and insults — to ensure they are not forced to rebuild again and again after every downpour.
As rescue operations continue and damage assessments climb, one thing is clear: the clash between Trump and Musk is just the latest flashpoint in a much bigger national battle over how America should balance economic growth, environmental protection, and the ever-growing risks of climate-related disasters.
