United States: In a notable pivot, Elon Musk on Wednesday voiced remorse over his recent cascade of posts targeting President Donald Trump, signaling a cooling of their once-fiery digital skirmish.
“I overstepped with some of my comments about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They were excessive,” Musk conveyed on X, a rare moment of public contrition.
Their once-warm alliance fractured spectacularly in the public arena, with both titans of influence lobbing verbal volleys via their respective digital platforms.
Once a trusted confidant of Trump’s inner circle and co-helmsman of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk had actively led sweeping cuts to federal jobs. Their camaraderie was not only visible but institutional, according to CNN.
Friction Over Fiscal Vision
The unraveling began when Musk vocally derided Trump’s cornerstone legislative push—a tax and domestic policy overhaul—branding it a “vile monstrosity” due to its projected strain on national finances.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is feeling remorseful after his explosive feud with President Donald Trump, posting on X that he regrets some of what he said.https://t.co/PbQ9fAZ9Bv
— News 5 WCYB (@news5wcyb) June 11, 2025
Doubling down, Musk dug up vintage statements from Trump and his Republican allies where they’d once warned against runaway government spending. This pointed critique seemed aimed at revealing contradictions within Trump’s current fiscal direction.
Interestingly, Wall Street appeared to nod approvingly at Musk’s reversal. Tesla’s (TSLA) stock saw a 2% bump during early market hours after his conciliatory statement.
Sharp Barbs and Speculative Claims
Among Musk’s most incendiary musings last week was an assertion that Trump would have fumbled the last election without his backing. More provocatively, Musk claimed Trump’s name appears in the enigmatic Epstein files—an allegation delivered without tangible backing.
Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier tied to underage sex trafficking, died in custody in 2019. Simply being named in related documents doesn’t equate to an accusation, a distinction left unaddressed by Musk.
The President Responds
President Trump, unamused, shot back on Truth Social, suggesting that federal incentives and contracts awarded to Musk’s ventures could be axed. He also told CNN’s Dana Bash he’s “not even thinking about Elon,” hinting at a deliberate disengagement.
In a pre-recorded segment for the “Pod Force One” podcast hosted by Miranda Devine, Trump expressed his disappointment, admitting to being “really surprised” by Musk’s verbal attack. Yet, he emphasized there were “no hard feelings.”
Softening Edges
As tensions simmered, Musk appeared to recalibrate his approach—scrubbing some of the more inflammatory posts, including one involving Epstein and another hinting at impeachment, as reported by CNN.
Even in the heat of conflict, Musk endorsed a message from billionaire Bill Ackman urging a reconciliation. Musk replied, “not wrong,” subtly hinting at a willingness to mend fences.
Echoing the administration’s stance on recent immigration-related protests in Los Angeles, Musk displayed symbolic support by sharing American flag emojis beneath Vice President JD Vance’s firm statement: “The president will not tolerate rioting and violence.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is feeling remorseful after his explosive feud with President Donald Trump, posting on X that he regrets some of what he said. https://t.co/DV8bbpzlMI
— WLUK-TV FOX 11 (@fox11news) June 11, 2025
Musk has consistently supported stringent immigration policies, including border control and deportations, aligning with Trump’s broader immigration doctrine.
A Family Interlude
Wednesday’s redemptive post by Musk followed commentary from his father, Errol Musk, who labeled his son’s feud with the president as “a mistake.” Speaking to Russia’s Izvestia, Errol declared, “Trump will prevail. He is the president.”
Despite their strained father-son relationship, Errol voiced optimism about a resolution. “This is trivial. It’ll blow over,” he said, according to CNN.
Though Musk hasn’t clarified exactly which posts he regrets, his tonal shift indicates a desire to restore some balance—and perhaps, one day, friendship—with the nation’s current commander-in-chief.