After weeks of digital fireworks and public jabs, President Donald Trump is taking the high road when it comes to Elon Musk. And possibly leaving the door open for a billionaire reunion.
Appearing on the Pod Force One podcast with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, Trump struck a surprisingly gracious tone when asked if he could forgive Musk after their recent blowout. His four-word response? “I guess I could.”
“I have no hard feelings,” Trump said, adding that while he was “really surprised” by Musk’s criticism of his signature legislation, he isn’t letting the feud fester.
A Bill Worth Defending
At the heart of the dust-up was Trump’s massive tax-and-spending legislation, known informally as the One Big Beautiful Bill. The bill, which passed the House on May 22, has become a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term economic agenda. While Musk publicly slammed it, Trump stood firm.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s the best thing we’ve ever signed in this country,” Trump said, clearly proud of the bill’s scope and impact.
When Musk pushed back, he echoed complaints from Sen. Rand Paul and referenced his own work leading the (tongue-in-cheek) Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Trump was caught off guard. “When he did that, I was not a happy camper. So, it’s too bad.”
Musk’s Walkback
In a rare admission, Musk has since stepped back from the fight. Posting to X just after 3 a.m. on Wednesday, he wrote:
“I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far.”
While he didn’t name specific posts, the billionaire had previously floated impeachment talk. And he even amplified a conspiracy theory about Trump and the Epstein files, a claim he later deleted.
Trump, for his part, called it like he saw it at the time: “He lost his mind,” he told ABC News.
But when asked again by Devine what he thinks is going on with Musk now, Trump shrugged off the drama. “I don’t know what his problem is, really. I don’t know. I haven’t thought much about it in the last little while.” Then came a nod to Musk’s apparent remorse: “I think he feels very badly. He said that, actually.”
A Truce in the Works?
The thaw in tensions is being welcomed by Republicans, who are eager to avoid distractions as Trump’s legislative agenda moves forward. And while the billionaires may never be “first buddies” again, Trump’s willingness to move past the insults, and focus on results, shows a leader more interested in building than bickering.
If forgiveness is strength, Trump’s already winning.
