In a recent statement on his social media platform X, tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed regret over his public criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump. Musk admitted that some of his posts, particularly those made last week, “went too far.”
While Musk did not specify which comments he regretted, his recent remarks follow a series of sharp attacks on the President. Among the controversial claims Musk made was an unfounded accusation that Trump’s administration had suppressed files related to financier Jeffrey Epstein to conceal the president’s involvement with him.
Musk, who had previously been a staunch supporter of Trump, including during the 2020 election campaign, broke from the President last week over Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill”—a sweeping package of tax cuts and increased government spending. Musk labeled it a “disgusting abomination,” which led to a public back-and-forth between the two influential figures.
In his criticism, Musk suggested that Trump’s election victory was only possible with his support, and he even voiced backing for Trump’s impeachment. The tensions escalated after Musk’s claim that Trump was implicated in the Epstein files, a statement the White House called an “unfortunate episode.”
Trump, in turn, responded by stating that the best way to reduce spending was to cancel government contracts awarded to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. In a heated NBC interview, Trump said that he no longer had any interest in repairing their relationship and that Musk would face “very serious consequences” if he continued to support primary challenges against Republican lawmakers backing the controversial spending bill.
However, in a surprising twist, Trump later softened his stance, acknowledging their “great relationship” and wishing Musk well. Musk, attempting to de-escalate tensions, deleted several of his critical posts about Trump, including the accusation regarding Epstein. He also shared social media posts from Trump, which included statements defending the president’s hardline immigration policies and condemning the unrest in Los Angeles.
Musk’s regret and his efforts to dial back the feud signal a potential shift in his approach to the ongoing public dispute with the former president.
