House Speaker Johnson Discusses Communication with Elon Musk Amid Trump Feud
House Speaker Mike Johnson recently shared that a lengthy text he sent to Elon Musk during a disagreement with former President Donald Trump ended up “in the ether.” This happened after he learned that Musk had changed his phone number, leaving him unable to reach the tech mogul.
“I sent him a long message, but it turns out his number was outdated,” Johnson explained. He noted that this was revealed to him during a podcast appearance where New York Post columnist Miranda Devine mentioned the lack of a direct line to Musk. “So, I guess the message never reached him,” he added. Johnson expressed a desire to meet Musk in person, emphasizing his respect for Musk’s contributions.
It’s a common practice among celebrities and billionaires to frequently change mobile numbers for privacy and security reasons.
Prior to the fallout, Johnson had planned to send more messages and hoped to connect more substantively with Musk, maybe even about significant legislative efforts.
Johnson Hopes for Reconciliation Between Trump and Musk
Johnson remarked that he hopes Trump will “reconciliate” amid the ongoing rift. The previous strong relationship between Musk and Trump soured in May, particularly after Musk led efforts to streamline government efficiency, which didn’t sit well with many Republican lawmakers.
This tension escalated at the end of May when Musk became vocal about resisting a proposed law to increase the U.S. debt limit by $5 trillion. Trump, meanwhile, criticized Musk for publicly opposing this measure, which he argued was in line with his administration’s focus on electric vehicle mandates that could impact Tesla.
In fact, on June 12, Trump signed resolutions aimed at ending regulations on diesel engines and electric vehicles in California, which further contributed to the friction.
Musk has recently indicated plans to establish a new political party to offer an alternative to both the Republicans and Democrats.
During a podcast interview, Johnson noted that he had received communication from Musk through a third party after realizing the phone number issue. This indicates that there might still be some willingness to reconnect, despite the feud.
Republican Responses to Musk’s Criticism of Trump’s Agenda
Johnson mentioned that several factors may have contributed to the rift with Musk, suggesting the entrepreneur was aware of the legislative details discussed in the spring and summer. “Musk seemed to be unhappy over what happened very quickly,” Johnson observed. “He knew what we were working on, and we communicated that for months.”
Despite these challenges, Johnson emphasized his commitment to moving forward and serving as a mediator in the situation. “I’ll let others evaluate that,” he concluded, indicating the complexities involved.
On July 4th, Trump announced a tax cut law, claiming it would significantly boost the U.S. economy, likening it to a “rocket ship” as its effects began to ripple through the nation.
Attempts to reach Johnson’s office for further comments on the matter were met with silence.
