Elon Musk Regrets Anti-Trump Posts, Ends Feud/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Elon Musk backed off his recent feud with President Donald Trump, admitting his social media posts “went too far.” The apology comes amid fears that Musk’s companies could face retaliation from the White House. Trump, however, said he’s not interested in mending ties and issued a warning to Musk.
Musk-Trump Feud Quick Looks
- Musk apologized for harsh posts about Trump, calling them excessive
- Deleted a key post falsely linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein
- Criticism of Trump’s policies and budget still remain on Musk’s X account
- Trump dismissed reconciliation, warned Musk of “serious consequences”
- Musk is a major contractor with significant government business at stake
- Feud triggered concern over political retaliation against Musk-led firms
- Tensions peaked after Musk claimed partial credit for Trump’s 2024 win
- Musk’s post drew backlash, including threats to cut federal contracts
- Trump accused Musk of aiding Democrats in future elections
- Fallout could affect SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink government dealings
Deep Look: Elon Musk Apologizes After Trump Feud Escalates Online
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Elon Musk took a surprising step back from his intensifying feud with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, publicly expressing regret over several inflammatory social media posts and acknowledging they “went too far.”
The tech mogul posted the statement on X, the platform he owns:
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
The message marks an attempt to cool tensions that had grown dangerously high between Musk and the Trump administration. The feud, which began with Musk’s online criticism of government spending and culminated in unfounded accusations about Trump’s past, has threatened to jeopardize Musk’s influence in Washington—and possibly his companies’ lucrative federal contracts.
Fallout From a Fractured Alliance
Musk, once considered an ally of the president, reportedly invested hundreds of millions in political efforts aligned with Trump’s 2024 campaign. However, recent weeks saw a public rupture as Musk criticized Trump’s policies, derided his latest federal budget as an “abomination,” and controversially claimed credit for Trump’s re-election.
One of Musk’s now-deleted posts accused the government of hiding information about Trump’s connections to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a baseless claim that may have pushed the relationship past a point of no return.
The tech billionaire still has not removed other controversial posts, including one where he blamed bloated government spending on Trump’s administration and another asserting he was key to the president’s electoral success.
Trump Responds with Warning
President Trump, asked Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” if he was open to reconciling with Musk, brushed off the idea.
“I don’t think that’s in the cards,” Trump told Kristen Welker.
“If he’s thinking about helping the Democrats, he’ll face serious consequences.”
Trump’s comments underscore the political risks Musk now faces. With federal agencies holding the power to award—or revoke—government contracts, Musk’s vast network of companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and Starlink, could find themselves under scrutiny.
Already, Trump allies have floated the idea of reviewing Musk’s contracts, raising concerns over how political feuds might interfere with national technology priorities.
Government Ties at Risk
Musk’s firms are deeply embedded in U.S. infrastructure and defense. SpaceX launches military and NASA payloads. Tesla benefits from electric vehicle subsidies and infrastructure bills. Starlink is used in defense operations abroad. Neuralink has received experimental approval for brain-interface technology trials.
Any shift in White House sentiment could reverberate across these ventures. Investors and analysts alike are watching closely to see whether Musk’s apology will mend ties—or whether deeper rifts remain.
“The apology is clearly a strategic move,” said political analyst Marcus Hill. “Musk realizes there’s more to lose than to gain here.”
Political Theater or Real Consequence?
It remains unclear whether Musk’s social media mea culpa will change the White House’s trajectory. The apology came without a full walk-back of his criticism and did not directly address Trump’s warning.
While Musk has long styled himself as a free-thinking billionaire unafraid to challenge power, this incident may test the limits of that independence—particularly when tied to billions in federal contracts.
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