Former U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in on the current state of his relationship with Elon Musk after a recent public rift.
Trump disclosed that he hasn’t had much interaction with the tech billionaire since Musk left the administration earlier this month departing amid controversy after trying to derail one of Trump’s key legislative achievements.
“I haven’t talked to him much, but I think Elon’s a terrific guy,” Trump said in a measured tone during an appearance on Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures, when asked about their relationship.
His remarks followed renewed tension, sparked just a day earlier when Musk sharply criticized Trump’s $2.8 trillion spending package.
“The new Senate draft will cost America millions of jobs and do serious strategic damage,” Musk wrote on X. “Completely reckless and destructive.”
Trump, however, chose not to directly address Musk’s latest jab. Instead, he offered reserved praise: “He’s a smart guy. I know he’ll always succeed. He actually campaigned with me… but he got upset, and frankly, that wasn’t the right move.”
Musk had earlier unleashed a fierce critique of Trump on social media after his pet project, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), lost momentum. He also accused Trump of being tied to the infamous Epstein files and claimed Trump wouldn’t have won the 2024 election without his support.
Trump, on the other hand, has implied that Musk’s frustration stems from the repeal of a Biden-era electric vehicle mandate, something that would have greatly benefited Tesla.
“That EV mandate was tough on him,” Trump said. “I’m for giving people the freedom to choose gas, hybrid, electric. I love electric cars, but not everyone wants one.”
Earlier in the year, Musk had pushed for sweeping cuts through DOGE, claiming to have saved $150 billion. But the gains were undercut by the spending surge in Trump’s new bill.
At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s outburst: “This is just Elon lashing out because the One Big Beautiful Bill didn’t cater to his wishlist.”
