The simmering feud between former President Donald Trump and tech titan Elon Musk has seemingly reached a boiling point, with Trump delivering a curt assessment of the situation. Speaking on Friday morning, Trump dismissed any immediate prospects of reconciliation, stating he hadn’t given Musk “a thought” and wouldn’t be speaking with him anytime soon.
Trump’s blunt pronouncements offered a stark contrast to the previous day’s public spat, which unfolded across various social media platforms. The increasingly acrimonious back-and-forth raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about potential repercussions.
During a brief interview Friday morning, Trump was asked if he’d spoken to Musk. His response was a simple, “No. I don’t think I’ll be talking to him for a while, but I wish him well.”
White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles confirmed that no phone calls were currently planned to mediate the rift between the two high-profile figures.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, struck a more optimistic tone, expressing hope for a resolution despite the previous day’s tense exchanges. “Yes, I believe people can change, and I think things will be fine in the end,” Johnson stated.
Johnson revealed he had been communicating with Musk via text but declined to elaborate on the specifics of their conversation. When questioned about Musk’s assertion that Trump would have lost the election without his support, Johnson replied that “Elon contributed a great deal in the last election, but it was a team effort. I mean, President Trump is the most consequential political figure of his generation, in modern American history. He’s the one that’s responsible, but we all worked very hard.”
Trump’s former trade advisor, Peter Navarro, offered a more dismissive perspective on the unfolding drama. Navarro downplayed the significance of the conflict, characterizing Musk as simply “a special government employee, who comes and goes.”
He indicated Musk’s criticisms of policies favored by Trump were unfounded and outright rejected concerns about the plans. Navarro also criticized Musk’s long-standing opposition to tariffs, a core tenet of Trump’s trade strategy. “Musk doesn’t like tariffs, period,” Navarro said.
Further fueling the drama, a senior White House official divulged that Trump was contemplating selling or gifting the red Tesla vehicle he acquired in March. The car purchase was initially framed as a show of support for Musk and his ventures.
The public feud is also casting a shadow of uncertainty over the future of Tesla. Tesla’s stock rebounded nearly 7% on Friday after a significant drop of 14% the previous day. Beyond Tesla’s immediate financial interests, the escalating tensions also create potential uncertainty for SpaceX, which depends on government contracts.
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