Musk Crawls Back to Trump.
The tumultuous relationship between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump appears to be moving toward reconciliation after a week of public feuding that saw the world’s richest man call for the president’s impeachment before ultimately expressing regret for his inflammatory posts.
The conflict erupted just days after Musk departed his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the Tesla CEO publicly criticizing Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as undermining the cost-cutting achievements his department had made. What began as policy disagreements quickly escalated into personal attacks, with Musk backing impeachment calls, labeling Trump “ungrateful” despite helping secure his election victory, and making serious allegations about the president’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein while warning that Trump’s tariff policies could trigger a recession.
Trump responded with equal force, declaring he had no interest in repairing their relationship and accusing Musk of disrespecting the presidential office. The public nature of their dispute sent shockwaves through political and business circles, given Musk’s significant role in Trump’s campaign and early administration.
However, the violent protests surrounding immigration raids in Los Angeles appear to have served as a catalyst for Musk’s change of heart. The tech billionaire, who has consistently supported strict border enforcement and deportations, began subtly signaling his return to Trump’s camp by adding American flags to Vice President JD Vance’s post condemning the riots and sharing Trump’s demands for California officials to apologize to Los Angeles residents.
Vance emerged as a key mediator in the dispute, expressing hope that Musk would “figure it out and come back” while characterizing Trump as “frustrated but restrained” in his response to avoid escalating their conflict into a prolonged feud. When Musk replied simply “cool” to Vance’s comments, it suggested the ice was beginning to thaw.
The turning point came Wednesday morning when Musk publicly acknowledged his mistakes, tweeting that he regretted some of his posts about the president and admitting “they went too far.” This rare display of contrition from the typically defiant billionaire signals a genuine attempt to repair the damaged relationship.
Trump’s response has been measured, indicating he hasn’t actively considered reaching out to Musk but wouldn’t oppose such contact if initiated. His comment that “if I were him I’d want to speak to me” suggests the president believes reconciliation is in Musk’s best interest, while his openness to a phone call indicates he may be willing to move past their public spat.
The likelihood of full reconciliation appears strong, driven by mutual political and business interests that transcend personal grievances. Musk’s substantial financial investment in Trump’s campaign and his alignment with key administration policies, particularly on immigration and government efficiency, create powerful incentives for both men to restore their working relationship. Trump, meanwhile, benefits from Musk’s massive social media influence and technological expertise as he implements his agenda.
Their shared enemies in the form of violent protesters and their common ground on border security provide a natural foundation for rebuilding trust. Vance’s mediating role also offers both sides a face-saving path forward, allowing them to reconcile without appearing to capitulate directly to each other.
While the scars from their public battle may linger, the pragmatic realities of American politics suggest that Musk and Trump will likely find their way back to an alliance. Both are transactional figures who understand that their mutual interests far outweigh their personal animosities, making reconciliation not just possible but probable in the coming weeks.