Trump and Musk’s Public Feud: No Truce Call on Friday as Tensions Stay High
The drama between former President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk shows no signs of cooling down anytime soon. Despite rumors swirling that White House aides might set up a call to smooth things over between the two high-profile figures, sources close to the situation have confirmed there won’t be any chat happening on Friday.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made it clear when she spoke with NBC News, “There are no plans for that today.” A senior White House official echoed that sentiment, telling NBC that Trump is “not interested” in a call with Musk, making it obvious the rift remains open.
What Sparked the Clash?
The whole mess blew up publicly on Thursday, when Trump openly criticized Musk’s recent verbal attacks on a key Republican domestic policy bill dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill, a major GOP initiative, faced heavy backlash from Musk, who called it a “disgusting abomination,” particularly taking issue with its projected impact on the federal deficit.
Trump, in turn, fired back hard, accusing Musk of being hypocritical. Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump said, “I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here, better than you people.” He went on to express his personal frustration: “I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
The Core of the Disagreement
Trump’s main gripe centers on the fact that Musk seemed particularly upset about the bill cutting out a tax credit initially introduced under the Biden administration to encourage electric vehicle purchases. That tax credit was important for Tesla and other EV manufacturers, so its removal was a sore spot.
But Musk wasn’t having it. In a quick rebuttal posted on X (formerly Twitter), he denied having any insider knowledge of the legislation. “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” Musk wrote, dismissing Trump’s accusations.
Social Media Fireworks
Once the feud went public, the two wasted no time taking shots at each other on their preferred social platforms—Musk on X, Trump on Truth Social. The back-and-forth was sharp, unfiltered, and played out in real-time for their millions of followers to witness.
This kind of public sparring isn’t unusual for either figure, but the stakes felt higher because of the broader political implications. The bill in question is a centerpiece for the GOP’s domestic policy agenda, and Musk’s vocal criticism threw a wrench in the works.
White House’s Take: Trying to De-Escalate?
Behind the scenes, some in the Trump administration expressed a desire to cool things off. A senior official told NBC, “There could be anything — I’d like to de-escalate a very unfortunate situation. But there are no calls on the books, at least not now.”
This suggests that while Trump himself isn’t pushing for a resolution at the moment, others might be hoping for some kind of détente in the near future.
Trump’s Focus: The Big GOP Agenda
White House press secretary Taylor Leavitt summed it up succinctly when asked about the feud. He said Trump remains laser-focused on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” — the policy legislation at the heart of the dispute.
“That’s the mindset he left the Oval Office in yesterday,” Leavitt noted, emphasizing that Trump’s priority is the domestic policy bill, not patching things up with Musk.
Why Does This Matter?
This feud is more than just a personal spat between two outspoken figures; it reveals cracks in the relationship between the Republican establishment and influential business leaders like Musk. The fact that the disagreement spilled into public view—and started impacting markets, with Tesla’s stock seeing ripples—shows the real-world consequences of their war of words.
For a guy like Elon Musk, whose companies rely on government incentives, being at odds with political heavyweights can have tangible effects. For Trump, a former president trying to maintain influence within the GOP, a high-profile feud with a billionaire entrepreneur brings both risks and rewards — alienating some allies while energizing his base.
What’s Next?
As of now, no scheduled calls or meetings are planned to reconcile the differences. Both Trump and Musk seem determined to stand their ground. But history tells us that such public battles can sometimes cool off unexpectedly or shift direction rapidly.
Whether this public feud will escalate into something more damaging—or if cooler heads will prevail—remains to be seen. For now, it’s a reminder of how intertwined politics, business, and social media have become in shaping public discourse and policy.
Quick Takeaways
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No peace talks scheduled: White House confirms no plans for Trump to call Musk on Friday.
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Root cause: Musk slammed the GOP’s domestic policy bill over deficit concerns; Trump called Musk out for hypocrisy.
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Tax credit cut: The bill removes EV tax credits important to Tesla, fueling Musk’s anger.
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Social media battle: Both men traded insults publicly on X and Truth Social.
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White House wants calm: Officials hope to de-escalate but no immediate resolution.
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Trump’s priority: Focus remains on pushing the GOP policy agenda, not on patching things up with Musk.
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Impact: The feud is shaking up political and financial circles, especially Tesla’s stock.
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