Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has admitted that some of his recent social media posts targeting U.S. President Donald Trump may have crossed a line. Writing on X, the platform he owns, Musk said, “They went too far,” in reference to the public exchange of criticisms between the two men.
Background of the Dispute
Tensions escalated after Musk stepped away from his advisory role in the White House, publicly denouncing a new tax proposal as a “disgusting abomination.” The budget plan, which includes significant tax reductions and increased defense spending, passed the House of Representatives and is now under Senate review.
At the time, Musk encouraged the public to contact lawmakers and oppose the bill, warning it could lead to an economic downturn later in the year.
Musk’s Unsubstantiated Claims and Trump’s Reaction
Musk also made unverified statements suggesting President Trump was linked to unreleased government documents concerning Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender. The White House dismissed those allegations outright.
In response, President Trump criticized Musk during a national interview, accusing the Tesla and SpaceX CEO of showing disrespect toward the presidency. He also hinted at the possibility of cutting federal contracts with Musk’s companies, which reportedly amount to $38 billion, largely tied to SpaceX.
“You could not disrespect the office of the president,” Trump said. “I think it’s a very bad thing because he’s very disrespectful.”
Deleted Posts and Signs of Reconciliation
Over the weekend, Musk appeared to delete several of his more aggressive posts, including one that called for the president’s impeachment. The move coincided with Trump stating he had “no hard feelings” over the dispute and was open to reconciling.
“I think he feels very badly that he said that,” Trump told the New York Post, describing the fallout as disappointing but not irreparable.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The conflict has stirred responses across the political spectrum:
- Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon publicly called for Musk to be deported.
- Vice President JD Vance suggested that Musk may eventually “come back into the fold,” though he acknowledged the severity of the outburst.
- Most Republican leaders have encouraged both parties to reconcile.
- Democrats, for the most part, have observed without directly intervening.
Musk had previously been one of President Trump’s largest campaign donors in the 2024 election and was regarded as a close political ally. The public rift followed Musk’s short tenure at the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, from which he resigned after just 129 days.
