Elon Musk called Trump before posting regret over online feud; White House says US President ‘appreciates’ apology
Elon Musk placed a phone call to President Donald Trump late Monday, shortly before publicly expressing regret over a series of hostile social media posts targeting the president, The New York Times and Reuters reported Wednesday.The Tesla and SpaceX CEO acknowledged on X that his posts had crossed a line. “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk wrote Wednesday on the platform he owns.In response, the White House signalled a possible softening of tone. “The president acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning, and he is appreciative of it,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. She also confirmed that “no efforts” had been made to act on Trump’s earlier threat to end Musk’s federal contracts.The apology marks a notable shift in what had become an unusually personal and public spat between two of the most powerful figures in American politics and business. The feud escalated after Musk denounced Trump’s key domestic bill as a “disgusting abomination” and suggested Trump’s name was in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files—a post he later deleted.Trump lashed back by calling Musk “a big-time drug addict” and mocking his appearance during a recent Oval Office visit. Just last week, the president had said he had no interest in mending fences.But Musk’s recent actions—deleting provocative posts, mirroring Trump’s rhetoric on immigration and protests, and privately reaching out—indicate an effort to de-escalate. Trump, for his part, has toned down his criticism, fuelling speculation of a potential reconciliation. Allies on both sides have reportedly encouraged them to move past the dispute.The stakes go beyond personal grievances. Musk is the Republican Party’s largest donor in 2024, contributing nearly $275 million to Trump’s campaign. At the same time, Musk’s companies rely heavily on federal contracts—SpaceX alone secured $3 billion in 2023—leaving them vulnerable to political fallout. Multiple federal agencies are also currently investigating or suing Musk’s firms.The rift began over policy but quickly turned personal. After Musk’s harsh critique of Trump’s fiscal bill, Trump suggested pulling funding from Musk’s companies to “save money.”Musk’s political engagement has also begun to take a toll on his business reputation. Tesla is losing market share in key regions like Germany, Norway, France, and even the U.S., amid rising competition and consumer backlash. The company is expected to unveil its autonomous “Robotaxi” fleet in Austin, Texas, later this month.Meanwhile, SpaceX continues testing its ambitious new rocket—touted as the most powerful ever built—but results have been mixed, adding further pressure on Musk’s business empire.
