Trump Open to Reconciliation with Musk, But It’s Not His Main Focus

President Trump believes he can mend his relationship with former billionaire friend Elon Musk, although reconciling isn’t at the forefront of his mind.

During an interview with Miranda Devine, Trump expressed disappointment over the fracture of their alliance but clarified he wasn’t angry. “Look, I don’t feel any difficult feelings,” Trump, 78, stated, adding that he was taken aback by the fallout. “I think he feels very badly that he actually said it.”

Trump mentioned that while he was let down, he doesn’t blame Musk for the situation. Musk had recently remarked that he viewed Trump almost like a father figure, which might explain some of the tension. “It happens. That kind of thing happens. I’m a little disappointed,” Trump said.

Musk, 53, voiced his frustration last week over a significant legislative bill that the Congressional Budget Office estimates will increase the national debt by $3 trillion over the next decade. The tech mogul has been advocating for cost-cutting measures through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to address the nation’s rising debt, which hovers near $37 trillion.

Last Thursday, Musk criticized Trump for failing in the upcoming 2024 election without his support, suggesting Trump had shown “such complaints.” Just days before this, Trump had been praising Musk during a public event, seemingly trying to foster a positive atmosphere by joking that Musk “hadn’t actually left.”

When asked if he could repair the relationship with Musk, Trump replied, “I think I can, but we have to straighten the country. And my only focus is now bringing the country to a higher level than ever before.” Trump had previously commented that Musk seemed “lost” and “crazy,” even pondering cutting federal contracts with Musk’s companies.

On a recent call, Trump mentioned he didn’t know what Musk’s problems were, although he didn’t delve into specifics. “I didn’t think much about him lately, but the bill is very good,” he commented.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon suggested that the government should take control of SpaceX. He claimed Musk confronted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a heated discussion in April over Bessent’s choice for acting IRS commissioner, which led to Musk being labeled a “complete scam.”

In describing this exchange, Trump mentioned, “Well, they weren’t boxing, but I think they had a little screaming match. But that’s typical.” Despite Musk’s public criticisms of Trump, the president expressed well wishes for him during a recent White House event, even responding to a video clip of Musk with a heart emoji.