Their blistering breakup—largely

Their blistering breakup—largely carried out on social media before a riveted public since Thursday last week—was ignited by Musk’s harsh criticism of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill, which is currently before Congress.

Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk—one of the Republican Party’s biggest financial backers in last year’s presidential election—to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation.

“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump, who also branded Musk “disrespectful,” told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be.

Trump also said he had “no” desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief and that he has “no intention of speaking to him.”

In his post on Wednesday

In his post on Wednesday, Musk did not specify which of his criticisms of Trump had gone “too far.”

The former allies had seemed to have cut ties amicably about two weeks ago, with Trump giving Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

But their relationship cracked within days as Musk described the spending bill as an “abomination” that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump’s second term in office.

Trump hit back at Musk’s comments in an Oval Office diatribe, and from there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned.

“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. “I was surprised,” Trump told reporters.

Musk, who was Trump’s biggest donor to his 2024 campaign, also raised the issue of the Republican’s election win.

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” he posted, adding, “Such ingratitude.”

Trump later said on his Truth Social platform

Trump later said on his Truth Social platform that cutting billions of dollars in subsidies and contracts to Musk’s companies would be the “easiest way” to save the US government money. US media have put the value of the contracts at $18 billion.

With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters, “I just wish him well,” and Musk responding, X: “Likewise.”

The White House dismissed Mr. Musk’s Epstein claims at the time, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill [a Republican tax and spending bill] because it does not include the policies he wanted.”

“The president is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”

Donald Trump responds after Elon admitted ‘regrets’ over explosive row:

Mr. Musk posted a series of tweets on X last week in a fiery exchange between the pair, including accusing the president of appearing in files relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

Donald Trump has responded after Elon said some of his recent social media posts about the US president “went too far.”

The Tesla and SpaceX boss shared a series of posts on his X social media platform last week, including one that described Mr. Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination.”

He also claimed, in a since-deleted post, that the president appeared in files relating to the disgraced pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Posting on X this morning, Elon said, “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

In response, the president is quoted as telling the New York Post, “I thought it was very nice that he did that.”

The publication said it spoke to Mr. Trump in a brief phone conversation.

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