Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and former advisor to Donald Trump, acknowledged on Wednesday that his recent online criticism of the former president “went too far,” signaling a potential thaw in their very public feud, reads an RFI (FR) post.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk posted on X, the platform he owns. His remarks come just days after Trump threatened him with "serious consequences" if he backed primary challenges against Republicans who supported a controversial federal spending bill.
The row between the two high-profile figures began when Musk, a major donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign, harshly condemned the proposed bill as an “abomination,” warning that its passage could define Trump’s second term. In response, Trump lashed out during a media interview, branding Musk “disrespectful” and suggesting cutting billions in federal subsidies and contracts to Musk’s companies—valued at around $18 billion—as a cost-saving measure.
Their once-amicable relationship deteriorated quickly. During the feud, Musk alleged in a now-deleted post that Trump was featured in sealed files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019. While Trump was named in recently unsealed court records earlier this year, he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Amid escalating tensions, Trump stated he had no interest in reconciling with Musk, while Musk responded by taking down some of the most incendiary posts and expressing regret. By Friday, both appeared to be stepping back. “I just wish him well,” Trump told reporters. Musk echoed the sentiment with a simple “Likewise” on X.
Despite their apparent détente, the political and financial ramifications remain. Musk's enterprises, including Tesla and SpaceX, continue to rely heavily on government partnerships, and any further strain in relations with key policymakers could carry consequences.
For now, both men seem focused on damage control—publicly cooling a heated confrontation that riveted Washington and dominated headlines for days.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
