Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has admitted that some of his recent social media posts attacking U.S. President Donald Trump “went too far,” in what appears to be an attempt to de-escalate tensions between the two men.
The statement, shared on Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, comes after a week of public hostility that saw both figures exchanging personal insults over Trump’s controversial tax and spending bill.
“I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,” Musk wrote, without specifying which comments he was referring to. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO had previously described Trump’s flagship tax package as a “disgusting abomination” and voiced support for impeachment efforts.
Musk has since deleted some of his most critical posts, signaling a possible thaw in relations between two of America’s most powerful figures. Sources close to the billionaire said Musk’s anger had begun to cool and that he was considering ways to repair the relationship — a move many observers say could be aimed at protecting his sprawling business interests.
Following Musk’s post, Tesla shares rose 2.3% in pre-market trading, suggesting investor relief at the softer tone.
“The conciliatory tone from Musk recently might indicate his desire to protect his businesses in light of the position he has found himself in,” said Mamta Valechha, a consumer discretionary analyst at Tesla investor Quilter Cheviot.
Matthew Britzman, a shareholder analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, added: “It still feels unlikely that we’ll see these two giant personalities so closely intertwined again, but it’s in neither’s best interest to let the drama continue.”
Shawn Campbell, an adviser at Camelthorn Investments, echoed this view: “There is a possibility their relationship could be restored, but it’s unlikely to return to where it once was. The stakes are enormous, with billions of dollars in government contracts on the line, not to mention regulatory and tax implications.”
Elon Musk and President Trump Fallout Over Tax Bill
Musk, whose companies have significant dealings with the U.S. government, had publicly bankrolled a large part of Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, contributing nearly $300 million and helping Republicans retain control of the House and reclaim the Senate.
Trump had, in turn, appointed Musk to lead a special government initiative to downsize the federal workforce and cut spending. However, Musk resigned from that role late last month after branding Trump’s new tax legislation “too expensive” and a threat to his work at the Department of Government Efficiency.
The public falling-out escalated over the weekend, with Trump declaring on Saturday that their relationship was “over” and warning of “serious consequences” if Musk funded Democratic candidates opposing Republicans who supported the bill.
Trump also ruled out repairing ties with Musk, saying there would be “no reconciliation.”
However, in a more measured tone on Monday, Trump told reporters that he would not object if Musk reached out and said he had no plans to cut off SpaceX’s Starlink satellite services currently used by the White House. He did suggest that he might consider moving Tesla vehicles off government sites.
“We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well,” Trump said.
In response, Musk posted a heart emoji under a video clip of Trump’s remarks on X, in what appeared to be an olive branch.
Market Reaction
The public spat had initially cost Tesla over $150 billion in market value last Thursday alone. However, following Musk’s conciliatory post, the company’s stock had recovered most of its losses by Wednesday.
“The market reaction tells you how concerned investors were about this feud,” said one Wall Street analyst. “A détente — even a partial one — is welcome news.”
It remains to be seen whether Musk and Trump will fully mend their relationship. Analysts say both figures have strong incentives to move past the row.
“The world’s richest man and the leader of the most powerful nation — their interests are too interconnected to let personal animosity dictate outcomes,” said Campbell.
For now, observers say Musk’s latest post suggests a calculated effort to de-escalate tensions and safeguard Tesla and SpaceX’s lucrative relationships with the U.S. government.
As one analyst put it: “At the end of the day, Musk is a pragmatist.”
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