An escalating feud between two of social media’s most notorious posters – Elon Musk and Donald Trump – has seized headlines and attention around the world, spurring the production of memes about both men and their respective projects.

this is not a fair fight. this is muhammad ali vs a 5th grader https://t.co/Q2Y7TP24NU

— Primary Takes Provider (@InternetHippo) July 13, 2022

The tension began after Musk backed out of his deal to purchase Twitter, with Trump calling out his fellow billionaire as a “bullshit artist” at a rally in Alaska. The former President said Musk had signed a bad contract with Twitter, and claimed Musk had voted for him but lied about it.

Trump went on to plug his own social media network Truth Social, which is mired in its own regulatory and financial issues.

Trump said Elon is in a 360 deal pic.twitter.com/kmgeznzDfU

— Ahmed🇸🇴 (@big_business_) July 10, 2022

Musk then tweeted that he believes Trump is too old to be President again and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would be a better nominee in 2024. Trump struck back by posting a Truth (the Truth Social equivalent of a tweet) about Musk, claiming that when the Tesla founder visited him in the White House while he was President, Trump could’ve asked him to “drop to your knees and beg” and Musk would have done it. Musk replied “lmao” to this claim.

Lmaooo

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2022

Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America.

If DeSantis runs against Biden in 2024, then DeSantis will easily win – he doesn’t even need to campaign.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 12, 2022

Musk has been more guarded in his replies to Trump, not confronting the ex-president directly and posting only one meme that was later deleted. The meme pictured liberals having to choose whether to hate Trump or Musk. Many spectators to the battle then proceeded to mock Musk.

Stewing for hours, calculating, strategising, playing scenarios over in his mind, he discovers the perfect retort. mere minutes before the day is through, like lightning, America’s Genius Elon Musk brings the full force of his intellectual might down upon his enemies. pic.twitter.com/rzjFAmcxeG

— Ed Zitron (@edzitron) July 13, 2022

Trump never deleted tweets just saying @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/7xIwr4qemN

— Dary (@DaryRezvani) July 13, 2022

The Donald Trump and Elon Musk relationship is a complicated one. Both Trump and his daughter Ivanka have highly praised Musk in the past, calling him a “genius.” Musk, for his part, has never fully embraced Trump. He served on a White House economic advisory council early in the administration but stepped down in protest after Trump exited the Paris Climate Accords.

Trump claimed that Musk came to ask about subsidies, however, which purportedly happened. Many of Musk’s companies rely heavily on the federal government to be profitable. According to an LA Times investigation, Musk’s companies received over $4.9 billion in government subsidies between 2015 and 2021.

Most of the business SpaceX does is with NASA or the Air Force and many people buy their Teslas because of tax credits the government offers. Musk’s businesses essentially need the federal government both as a client and as a funding source — and many argue he wouldn't be where he is today without knowing how to ask for and receive favors from the government.

As the battle spread to many platforms outside both Twitter and Truth Social, many online found the Musk-Trump feud hilarious, for various reasons.

Elon Musk in a petty spat with trump -- two bullshitters pissed at each other. You love to see it.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) July 12, 2022

Elon Musk and Trump beefing is incredibly funny because they have every material reason in the world to get along but their gigantic egos are actually managing to overpower their class interest

— Vaush 🇺🇸 (@VaushV) July 13, 2022

Some speculated that Trump was disappointed about not getting his Twitter account back, which is something Musk implied he would do if the purchase went through.

Trump calling Elon Musk a "bullshit artist" is the most satisfying temper tantrum for a man who knows he's not getting his Twitter account back. 😂🤣

— James is PRO-CHOICE 🌊🇺🇲❤️🇺🇦🌻 (@funkeymonkey83) July 10, 2022

Both Trump and Musk are known to carry social media grudges to extremes. Musk had his famous “pedo guy” incident during the Tham Luang Cave Rescue while Trump threatened nuclear war with North Korea in a 2018 tweet. It remains to be seen how far this feud will go.