President Donald Trump said Thursday he was “very disappointed” by Elon Musk’s criticism of his flagship tax and spending bill. He also questioned whether their personal and professional relationship would survive.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump gave his first public remarks on the split. He criticized Musk, once a close advisor, over comments the Tesla and SpaceX CEO made earlier in the week.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump told reporters. “He understood the bill better than almost anyone. Then suddenly, he turned against it.”
Musk had called the bill an “abomination” and pushed for Republicans to block it. He responded to Trump’s remarks shortly after on X, his social media platform. “False,” he wrote about Trump’s claim that Musk had seen the bill in advance. He added, “Whatever,” above a clip of Trump suggesting Musk was reacting to lost EV subsidies.
The conflict escalated when Musk wrote, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election. Such ingratitude.”
The fallout comes just days after a formal Oval Office farewell for Musk, who recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk attended the event with a visible black eye, which he said was from his son.
“You saw a man who was very happy, even with the black eye,” Trump said. “I offered him makeup. He said no. That tells you something.”
Trump said he understood why Musk was upset. He had recently pulled a nominee for NASA chief that Musk supported.
The president’s broad tax and spending bill remains the centerpiece of his second-term agenda. It could shape the outcome of the 2026 midterms. But Musk called it a “disgusting abomination” and urged Republicans to block it, warning it would balloon the deficit.
The public clash has rattled investors. Tesla shares dropped more than 8% Thursday. There was no major news from the company, but traders cited the sharp exchange as the cause. The concern: a strained relationship with the president could affect Musk’s business interests.
