US President Donald Trump has no plans to speak with his former ally Elon Musk, according to a White House official, amid an escalating clash over the president’s major tax-cut legislation. The official confirmed that no phone conversation between the two is scheduled for today, reports RTE.
Earlier in the day, a different White House source had stated that Mr Trump and Mr Musk were expected to talk.
“I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem, the poor guy’s got a problem,” Mr Trump said in an interview with CNN this morning, reports RTE.
Mr Trump, the leader of the United States, and Mr Musk, currently the wealthiest man in the world, clashed publicly in a dramatic and highly visible feud—mostly on social media—that appeared to mark the end of what was once a close partnership.
Tesla stock rebounded 4.5% at today’s market open, reports RTE.
That followed a staggering 14% plunge the day before, wiping out around $150 billion in value—the steepest one-day loss in Tesla’s history.
Mr Musk, who heavily financed Mr Trump’s election campaign, later took on a key role in the administration, heading a controversial initiative to reduce federal staffing and curb government expenditures, reports RTE.
Tensions began to rise several days ago when Mr Musk stepped down from his post as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency and began publicly criticizing Mr Trump’s tax and spending plan.
The dispute is creating additional challenges in moving forward with the legislation, which is at the heart of Mr Trump’s agenda for the Republican-led Congress.
Mr Musk has harshly criticized the bill—which includes many of Mr Trump’s domestic proposals—labeling it a “disgusting abomination” that would significantly increase the country’s $36.2 trillion debt, reports RTE.
The legislation narrowly passed the House last month and is now under Senate consideration, where Republicans are expected to propose further amendments.
Independent analysts estimate the bill could add $2.4 trillion to the national debt over a decade.
House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged speaking with Mr Musk, reports RTE.
“I don’t argue with him about how to build rockets and I wish he wouldn’t argue with me about how to craft legislation and pass it,” he remarked during an appearance on CNBC, reports RTE.
While Mr Trump initially refrained from responding to Mr Musk’s opposition, he broke his silence yesterday and told reporters he felt “very disappointed” in the billionaire entrepreneur.
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore,” Mr Trump said. Both men then began attacking each other on social media—Mr Trump on Truth Social and Mr Musk on X, reports RTE.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Mr Musk posted, referencing his nearly $300 million in campaign donations to Mr Trump and other Republicans last year, reports RTE.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files,” Mr Musk continued on X. “That is the real reason they have not been made public,” reports RTE.
Mr Musk gave no details about which files he meant and did not provide any evidence for the allegation.
He also claimed Mr Trump’s flagship tariff policies could trigger a recession, and responded “Yes” to a post on X suggesting that the former president should be impeached.
That outcome remains improbable since Republicans currently control both the House and Senate, reports RTE.
Mr Trump, in turn, hinted at terminating government contracts with Musk’s businesses, including aerospace company SpaceX and satellite provider Starlink.
In retaliation, Mr Musk—whose companies are vital to the US space program—said he would begin dismantling the Dragon spacecraft, the only American vehicle currently capable of carrying astronauts to the ISS, reports RTE.
However, he later retracted that statement.
Offering a potential olive branch, Mr Musk replied “You’re not wrong” to investor Bill Ackman, who had called for reconciliation between Mr Trump and Mr Musk, reports RTE.
A long-running conflict between the two could hurt Republican chances of maintaining control of Congress in the upcoming midterms, particularly if Mr Musk pulls back financial support or if other tech leaders begin to distance themselves from Mr Trump.
Mr Musk had already signaled plans to scale back his political contributions and on Tuesday urged that “all politicians who betrayed the American people” be removed from office in the next election, reports RTE.
His ties to the Trump administration have triggered protests at Tesla facilities, impacting sales and raising concerns among investors that Mr Musk is spread too thin, reports RTE.
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