Trump vs Musk: From Public Feud to Possible Truce Amid High-Stakes Fallout
A day after an explosive public feud between US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, signs have emerged of a potential reconciliation between the two powerhouses. The conflict — waged largely across social media — escalated rapidly, involving threats over government contracts, political jabs, and even calls for impeachment. However, White House aides have reportedly arranged a call between Trump and Musk on Friday, and Musk has signaled he might walk back his position.
The clash began after Trump criticized Musk in the Oval Office, prompting a series of retaliatory posts from both. Trump posted on Truth Social, while Musk responded via X (formerly Twitter). Despite the heated exchange, Musk hinted at diplomatic intentions, replying, “You’re not wrong,” to Bill Ackman’s suggestion that the two reconcile.
Musk, once a key ally of Trump, had backed his campaign with nearly $300 million and was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). But the rift deepened earlier this week when Musk slammed Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” as a “disgusting abomination,” accusing it of inflating the national debt, which now stands at $36.2 trillion. Nonpartisan analysts estimate the bill could add $2.4 to $5 trillion more.
The feud has triggered political tremors within the Republican Party, as Musk hinted at pulling back campaign support, which could jeopardize Republican performance in the upcoming midterm elections. “Elon really was a significant portion of the ground game,” noted a Republican strategist. On Tuesday, Musk posted: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
On Thursday, tensions peaked when Trump declared he was “very disappointed” in Musk. Musk responded with a bombshell: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” He also criticized Trump’s import tariffs, warning of an impending recession.
Trump retaliated by threatening to terminate Musk’s federal contracts and subsidies, to which Musk responded “Yes” when asked whether Trump should be impeached — an unlikely event given Republican control of Congress.
The feud had financial consequences: Tesla shares plummeted by 14%, wiping out $150 billion in market value — the company’s worst single-day loss ever. However, shares rebounded 5% in pre-market trading Friday after reports of the impending phone call between the two.
Despite threats to halt SpaceX operations, Musk later backed off, hinting at a cooling of tensions.
