Elon Musk, the billionaire behind Tesla and SpaceX and once an informal adviser to former President Donald Trump, publicly dialed back his most blistering attacks on the GOP frontrunner Wednesday, conceding that some of his recent remarks “overshot the mark.”
Posting on X, the social network he owns, Musk wrote, “In hindsight, a few of my comments about President Trump last week crossed a line.” The mea culpa followed a week-long, headline-grabbing spat that pitted two of the Republican Party’s most influential figures against each other over a massive federal spending package.
Sparks Fly Over a “Big, Beautiful” Bill
The fight erupted after Musk branded the $1.2 trillion legislation — touted by Trump as “big, beautiful” infrastructure and defense spending — an “abomination.” Fiscal-hawk lawmakers had urged Musk, the party’s single largest private donor in the 2024 cycle, to bankroll primary challenges against Republicans supporting the measure.
Trump, never one to leave a jab unanswered, warned on NBC that Musk would face “very serious consequences” if he funded those insurgent campaigns. He offered no specifics but dismissed his former ally as “disrespectful” and said he had “no interest” in repairing the relationship.
From Allies to Adversaries
Only a fortnight ago the pair parted company amicably, with Trump praising Musk’s stint on the cost-cutting “Department of Government Efficiency” task force. The mood soured when Musk predicted the bill, if passed, would define a potential second Trump term “for all the wrong reasons.”
In one fiery X thread, Musk claimed his financial muscle had been decisive in the 2024 election, suggesting Republicans would have lost the House without him. Trump shot back on Truth Social, musing that slashing federal contracts and subsidies tied to Musk’s ventures could balance the budget “in a heartbeat.” Watchdog groups estimate those contracts top US $18 billion.
A Cold Truce — For Now
By Friday, the rhetoric cooled. Trump told reporters, “I wish him well,” while Musk responded, “Likewise.” Yet the détente remains fragile. Musk quietly deleted a post insinuating Trump’s name appeared in sealed Jeffrey Epstein records — a claim made without evidence that sent shockwaves through Washington before vanishing from X.
Whether Wednesday’s apology marks the end of the drama or simply a lull before the next tweetstorm is anyone’s guess. But for the moment, the tech mogul and the ex-president appear to have stepped back from the brink — leaving investors, lawmakers, and voters to wonder which billionaire-sized ego will flare up next.
