In a Friday morning phone interview with ABC News, Donald Trump delivered a scathing critique of Elon Musk, claiming the billionaire has “lost his mind” and stating he has no interest in speaking with him at the moment. The remarks came in response to speculation about a possible reconciliation between the two, sparked by a report from Politico.
According to Trump, it was Musk who attempted to reach out, but the former president said he’s not open to a conversation at this time. He even hinted at the possibility of canceling government contracts and subsidies that currently benefit Musk’s companies. Trump downplayed the dispute, instead turning the spotlight to issues he considers more pressing—such as declining inflation, growing foreign investment, and his plans for an upcoming trip to China.
“Are you talking about the man who’s lost his mind?” Trump responded when asked about a potential call with the Tesla and SpaceX owner. “I’m not particularly interested in talking to him right now,” he added.
Later, in comments to CNN, Trump reinforced the rift: “I don’t even think about Elon Musk. I won’t be speaking to him for a while,” he said during what was described as a short phone call.
Sources close to the president said Trump appeared more disheartened than angry about the fallout with Musk. One adviser who was with him Thursday night noted that Trump seemed “down,” a mood that carried into Friday’s call, according to ABC News.
The clash also stirred reactions within Trump’s political orbit. Vice President JD Vance voiced his support for Trump on X, though he avoided commenting directly on Musk’s criticisms. “President Trump has done more than anyone in my lifetime to earn the trust of the movement he leads. I’m proud to stand with him,” Vance posted.
The White House also weighed in, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt labeling the public spat as “another unfortunate episode from Elon, who dislikes the Great and Beautiful Law because it doesn’t include his policies.” She emphasized that the president remains focused on passing that historic legislation and “making the country great again.”
Despite the initial escalation, Musk appeared to soften his stance just hours later. According to ABC News, he walked back his threat to retire the Dragon spacecraft, which is used to transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. The reversal came after a post from a user with just 141 followers on X advised Musk to “calm down” and “take a step back.” Musk replied: “Good advice. Okay, we won’t retire Dragon.”
The back-and-forth, laced with unsubstantiated claims and warnings over federal contracts, unfolded amid rising tensions between politics and business. What was once a relationship marked by public gestures of mutual support has now reached its most strained point—potentially affecting both U.S. politics and the technology and automotive industries.
In fact, the red Tesla Trump purchased as a symbolic show of support for Musk might soon have a new owner. A senior official told ABC News the former president is considering selling or giving it away. The vehicle was spotted parked on West Executive Avenue on Thursday, just a day after Trump reviewed Tesla models at the White House—at a time when Musk’s company was facing mounting challenges in Washington.
