Hours only after an exchange of hot words between US President Donald Trump and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, there are attempts to soothe the tension between the two powerful personalities.
As reported by POLITICO, White House aides have scheduled a call with Musk on Friday in an effort to cool things off. Officials are said to be attempting to dissuade Trump from softening his comments regarding the billionaire tech entrepreneur and refraining from further provocation.
In response to being questioned regarding the very public confrontation with one of his loudest supporters, Trump told POLITICO, ‘Oh, it’s okay’.
How the Clash Unfolded
The dispute began after Trump voiced his displeasure with Musk’s criticism of the administration’s proposed spending plan, commonly referred to as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’. During a televised address from the Oval Office, the President remarked, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Trump also alleged that Musk suffers from ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ and misses the previous administration, according to the Associated Press.
In reply, Musk went on social media, claiming that Trump would not have won the 2024 election without his support. Musk, who gave his reported $300 million to Trump’s campaign, also posted on Twitter without providing evidence that Trump’s name was mentioned in government documents involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Threats and Counterclaims
Trump retaliated by proposing that the government might save a lot of money by cutting out its financial transactions with Musk’s businesses. “The simplest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to end Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Musk’s businesses such as rocket launches for NASA and Starlink satellite internet services—now depend significantly on government subsidizations and contracts.
White House Response
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to Musk’s comments by saying to AFP, “This is a unfortunate moment from Elon, who is disgruntled with the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ as it does not have the policies he wished for.”
As the controversy unfolds, the next few days will tell if the relationship between Trump and Musk, once a marriage of convenience, can be restored or if it has entered a more confrontational mode.
