On early Wednesday, Elon Musk softened his stance regarding President Donald Trump, following a private conversation with the vice president and White House chief of staff. According to a source familiar with the matter, this discussion aimed to quell the ongoing feud between Musk and Trump, which has intensified recently on social media platforms.
The call, which involved JD Vance and Susie Wiles, was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. It came amid a tumultuous exchange where both Musk and Trump criticized each other publicly. Shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern time, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to express regret for some of his posts about Trump, stating, “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
During a Wednesday briefing at the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on Musk's statement, noting, “The president acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning, and he is appreciative of it.” She further mentioned that she was unaware of any plans to review Musk’s federal contracts, a topic Trump had suggested during their recent online clash.
Musk did not specify which posts he regretted, but his rare admission of fault indicates a desire to de-escalate tensions with the White House, especially after Trump hinted at potential repercussions for Musk’s companies. This apology arrives at a crucial time for Musk’s electric vehicle company, Tesla, which is set to unveil a fully autonomous vehicle in Austin later this month.
The ongoing feud has impacted Tesla’s market performance. Following Musk's public criticisms, Tesla’s stock price dropped 14 percent before recovering slightly. By midday Wednesday, the stock was up about 1 percent. Dan Ives, a managing director at Wedbush Securities, noted that the conflict has created uncertainty for investors, who fear Trump might complicate Musk’s ambitious plans for an autonomous future.
The feud escalated when Musk criticized a White House-backed tax bill as “a disgusting abomination,” accusing it of contributing to “crushingly unsustainable debt.” Although Musk officially distanced himself from the White House in May, he indicated that the U.S. DOGE service, which sought to streamline federal bureaucracy, would persist.
In response, Trump suggested terminating government subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk’s businesses, calling the billionaire a “big-time drug addict” during a phone conversation. Musk’s companies have received an estimated $38 billion in government funding, reflecting their deep connection to federal policies. SpaceX serves as a vital launch provider for both NASA and the Department of Defense, while Tesla relies on tax credits to stimulate demand for its electric vehicles.
Musk has also made controversial statements regarding Trump, including claims about the former president's connections to the late Jeffrey Epstein, which he later deleted. Additionally, Musk threatened to decommission SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, a critical asset for NASA, although he later retracted that assertion.
Investor Ross Gerber, who previously supported Musk, commented that Musk has realized the potential repercussions of crossing paths with Trump. “Musk learned the hard way that Trump can destroy him,” Gerber stated. He emphasized that both men are now navigating a path to save face amid the ongoing tensions.
By Tuesday, Musk shifted his focus to other topics, such as the upcoming launch of Tesla’s robotaxi in Austin, tentatively scheduled for June 22, and the recent protests in Los Angeles. He also criticized Stephen K. Bannon, a Trump ally, who suggested that federal authorities investigate Musk’s immigration status.
The future relationship between Musk and Trump remains uncertain. Trump indicated in a recent podcast that reconciliation could be possible but is not a priority at the moment. “I guess I could, but, you know, we have to straighten out the country,” Trump remarked, emphasizing his focus on national issues over personal disputes.
As the situation evolves, both Musk and Trump will likely continue to navigate the complex interplay of politics, business, and public perception, leaving many to wonder what lies ahead for their once-strong connection.
