In a surprising turn of events, recent social media activity from President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk hints at a potential thawing of their relationship, following a highly publicized feud that captivated the nation last week. The two influential figures, whose alliance had been a cornerstone of Mr. Trump’s second term, exchanged conciliatory remarks on their respective platforms, Truth Social and X, suggesting a desire to move past their recent clash.
The rift between Mr. Trump and Mr. Musk erupted on June 5, sparked by the latter’s vocal criticism of the President’ssignature legislative package, dubbed the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ Mr. Musk, who had recently stepped down from his role as co-head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), labeled the bill a ‘disgusting abomination’ on X, arguing it would balloon the national debt. President Trump retaliated on Truth Social, accusing Musk of ingratitude and threatening to cut federal subsidies and contracts for Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. The feud escalated with personal jabs, including Mr. Musk’s now-deleted claim that Trump was implicated in unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files, a charge the White House vehemently denied.
However, early on June 11, Mr. Musk posted on X, ‘I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.’ This rare public apology from the tech mogul marked a significant shift in tone. Mr. Musk further softened his stance by sharing Mr. Trump’s posts on immigration policy and condemning unrest in Los Angeles, aligning with the president’s rhetoric on key issues.
President Trump, in response, appeared to extend an olive branch. In a podcast interview with the New York Post’s ‘Pod Force One,’ released on June 11, he said, ‘I hold no hard feelings’ toward Musk, adding, ‘I thought it was very nice that he [Musk] did that,’ referring to the billionaire’s regretful post. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the US president reiterated, ‘We had a great relationship, and I just wish him well, very well, actually.’ A White House clip of this exchange prompted Mr. Musk to respond with a heart emoji on X, a subtle but notable gesture of goodwill.
Analysts suggest that the softening rhetoric may be driven by mutual interests. Mr. Musk’s companies rely heavily on federal contracts, with SpaceX alone securing $3 billion in government deals in 2023. Meanwhile, President Trump benefits from Musk’s influence on X, where the billionaire boasts over 220 million followers, and his financial support, which included roughly $275 million in contributions to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Allies of both men, including Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, have reportedly urged reconciliation, with sources indicating a phone call was scheduled last week to broker peace.
While neither Trump nor Musk has confirmed a formal reconciliation, their recent posts suggest a willingness to de-escalate. Whether this marks a return to their former bromance or a pragmatic truce remains unclear. For now, the world’s most powerful politician and its richest man appear to be signaling that their alliance, though bruised, may not be broken.