Elon Musk publicly expressed regret over a series of social media posts that criticized President Donald Trump, signaling a potential cooling of tensions after a high-profile clash. The dispute, which began after Musk’s comments on a Republican tax bill, escalated into a bitter exchange across X and Truth Social.
Musk, who had recently concluded his brief tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, initially lashed out against Trump’s legislative efforts, labeling the proposed spending package as excessive and irresponsible. His remarks included a call to “kill the bill” and a claim that the legislation would severely harm the economy. These posts drew a sharp response from Trump, who expressed disappointment and accused Musk of betraying their previous alliance.
The feud intensified when Musk posted—then deleted—a message alleging that Trump’s name appeared in sealed government files connected to Jeffrey Epstein. The accusation was widely shared before it was taken down, further inflaming tensions between the two influential figures. Trump responded by questioning Musk’s loyalty and suggesting that his companies could lose access to federal contracts.
Amid the back-and-forth, Tesla shares saw initial losses but began to recover in advance of the company’s planned launch of a new robotaxi service scheduled for June 22. Musk’s business interests appeared to be under pressure as Morgan Stanley was marketing billions in loans tied to his AI venture, xAI, which also owns the X platform. Financial analysts speculated whether Musk’s political engagement was part of a larger strategy or simply an overreach.
On June 11, Musk took to X and admitted his posts had gone too far. “I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week,” he wrote. “They went too far.” The apology came shortly after Trump indicated in a podcast interview that he was open to reconciliation, describing Musk’s earlier criticisms as surprising and implying that they may have been emotionally driven rather than calculated.
The relationship between the two has been complicated by their previous cooperation. Musk donated a large sum to Trump’s election campaign and briefly served in a government advisory role. Despite this, Trump claimed he could have won the 2024 election without Musk’s support, pointing to victories in states like Pennsylvania.
After Musk’s apology, a video clip circulated of Trump speaking kindly about his former adviser, to which Musk responded with a heart emoji on X. The gesture suggested a willingness to move beyond the dispute. Nonetheless, the clash had already drawn attention from political commentators, business analysts, and former Trump aides such as Steve Bannon, who called for Musk to be investigated.
While the spat drew headlines and social media speculation, it was quickly overshadowed by unrest in Los Angeles. Protests erupted in response to a new immigration enforcement policy, prompting the deployment of the National Guard.
The brief fallout between Musk and Trump highlighted the fragile dynamics between high-level political and business figures in the current climate. Whether their relationship will fully recover remains to be seen, but for now, both appear to be stepping back from further escalation.
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