Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken to his social media platform X to express his regret over some posts he made regarding US President Donald Trump during their recent social media feud. Musk stated, “I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,” which signals a significant shift in tone amidst the ongoing clash.
The fallout began when Musk labeled Trump’s tax bill as a “disgusting abomination.” This public dispute escalated further after Trump claimed their relationship was over and dismissed any notion of reconciliation. The contentious tax plan, which entails substantial tax breaks coupled with increased defense spending, was approved by the House of Representatives the previous month and is under consideration by the Senate.
Musk, advocating for his concerns, urged Americans to voice their opposition to the bill, fearing it could lead to a recession later this year. Furthermore, he made uncorroborated claims linking Trump to unreleased government materials associated with the late Jeffrey Epstein, prompting a firm denial from the White House.
In retaliation, Trump remarked that Musk had “lost his mind” and threatened to terminate government contracts with an estimated worth of $38 billion, with a significant portion attributable to Musk’s SpaceX enterprise. Trump expressed concern over Musk's disrespectful remarks, emphasizing that such behavior is inappropriate regarding the presidency during an NBC interview.
Following this heated exchange, Musk deleted several of his controversial posts over the weekend, including one advocating for Trump’s impeachment. Historically, Musk has been a prominent supporter of Trump, even serving as the largest donor for his 2024 presidential campaign.
The political landscape has seen reactions from former aides and other political figures, with Steve Bannon suggesting extreme measures against Musk, hinting at deportation given Musk's South African origins. Vice President JD Vance expressed hope for a possible reconciliation between the two, though he acknowledged the challenge after Musk's “nuclear” escalation. Most Republicans seem to favor the idea of mending relations, while Democrats observe the unfolding feud with interest.
Musk's recent departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) after a brief tenure of just 129 days has also contributed to the complexities of his relationship with the political sphere.
