Elon Musk’s Reconciliation Efforts Following Social Media Feud with Trump
After a highly publicized fallout between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, Musk is taking steps to mend the situation. The tech mogul recently expressed regret over his harsh online remarks concerning the president, signaling an attempt to de-escalate the tensions.
In a social media post on X, Musk stated, “I regret some of my posts about President [Trump] last week. They went too far,” signaling a change of tone in the ongoing conflict. The apology came shortly after 3 a.m. ET on a Wednesday, amidst a flurry of online exchanges.
While President Trump has been active on social media, he has yet to publicly address Musk’s apology. However, during a podcast interview with the New York Post, Trump commented, “I don’t blame him for anything but I was a little disappointed,” indicating he harbors no hard feelings towards Musk.
Trump further mentioned that he hasn’t considered Musk much recently, but when asked about the possibility of forgiving him, he replied, “I guess I could,” emphasizing his current focus on national matters over personal disputes.
Despite Trump’s statements to NBC News indicating he does not intend to repair his relationship with Musk, describing himself as “too busy doing other things,” he has softened some of his earlier critiques. Notably, he has not pursued threats of canceling federal contracts with Musk’s companies or investigating Musk’s immigration status, as suggested by Steve Bannon.
Musk, on his part, has quietly removed some of his more contentious posts, including calls for Trump’s impeachment and criticisms of his economic policies. Nevertheless, Musk’s recent deletion of these posts suggests a deliberate move toward reconciliation.
Despite recent tensions, Trump recently stated he would not remove Musk’s Starlink system from the White House, even amid security concerns. He also expressed willingness to maintain communication, stating, “We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well — very well, actually.”
The Alliance that Was
The relationship between Musk and Trump dates back to 2024, marked by Musk’s significant financial support for Trump’s reelection campaign. Subsequently, Musk took on a governmental role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, although his tenure was marred by legal challenges and financial pitfalls.
During his 130-day tenure, Musk faced various controversies and conflicts within the administration, impacting both his public role and his business ventures. Tesla, for instance, reported a significant drop in profits during his government service.
Trump and Musk’s War of Words
The discord between Trump and Musk escalated through social media, with Musk asserting that Trump’s election success was due in part to his support, while Trump countered by suggesting cuts to Musk’s federal subsidies and contracts. Accusations flew, including Musk’s unfounded claims of Trump’s involvement with the Epstein files, which Trump dismissed.
Despite the heated exchanges, Trump’s administration refrained from direct commentary, although press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Musk’s opposition to Trump’s bill, which proposes cuts to electric vehicle subsidies.
Amidst this backdrop, Trump mentioned that the feud had inadvertently strengthened Republican unity and facilitated legislative progress, as evidenced by the narrow passage of a significant domestic policy bill in the House.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
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