Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and a former advisor to Donald Trump, publicly expressed regret on Wednesday over some of his recent criticisms of the U.S. president, following a widely publicized and dramatic falling-out between the two high-profile figures.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk posted on X, the social media platform he owns. His comments come less than a week after an escalating war of words between the two men played out before millions of followers online.
The dispute was sparked by Musk’s fierce criticism of a controversial federal spending bill backed by Trump, which the former president has called his “big, beautiful” legislative achievement. The bill, currently under debate in Congress, has drawn opposition from some Republican lawmakers who see it as fiscally irresponsible.
Several of those lawmakers had reportedly urged Musk to use his financial influence to support primary challengers against Republicans who vote in favor of the bill. Musk, a major donor to Republican causes during the last presidential election, appeared to entertain the idea—prompting a strong rebuke from Trump.
In an interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump warned Musk of “very serious consequences” should he act against GOP lawmakers, though he did not elaborate on what those consequences might be. The former president also referred to Musk as “disrespectful,” further fueling speculation about a deeper rift between the two.
The exchange marked a sharp turn in a relationship that had previously appeared amicable. Musk had served as an informal advisor to Trump and played a visible role in conservative political circles, particularly during the 2024 campaign cycle.
While Musk’s statement on Wednesday suggests an attempt to de-escalate tensions, it remains uncertain whether Trump’s camp will accept the olive branch or if the feud will have longer-term political ramifications, particularly as both men continue to exert significant influence over the Republican Party’s future.
Written By Rodney Mbua
