White House aides scrambled to arrange peace talks Thursday after President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s vicious public spat threatened to derail the president’s signature legislative agenda, Politico reported.
Aides had arranged a private call for Friday, according to the outlet, though a senior White House official told The Daily Caller that while Musk “has expressed interest in a phone call, the President does not intend to speak to Musk today.” Staff reportedly prodded Trump to avoid insults and act tactfully, arguing a skirmish with the world’s richest man would only distract Republicans he still needs to muscle the multi-trillion-dollar package across the finish line, while Musk hinted at reconciliation after hedge fund titan Bill Ackman publicly begged the two men to “make peace for the benefit of our country.” (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: White House Insiders Vent On Big Beautiful Breakup, Reveal Elon’s Final Straw)
“Oh it’s OK,” Trump told Politico, responding to a question about the spat. “It’s going very well, never done better … the numbers are through the roof, the highest polls I’ve ever had and I have to go.”
The president’s nonchalant response Thursday marked a stark contrast to the ugly, days-long social media exchange that began when Musk blasted the “big beautiful bill’s” projected $2.4 billion price tag as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination” on Tuesday.
The SpaceX founder continued to unleash a barrage of posts attacking the legislation’s fiscal impact, accusing Trump and congressional Republicans of abandoning conservative principles on government spending. Trump initially fired back with characteristic force — branding Musk “CRAZY” and threatening to terminate the many federal subsidies and contracts his companies enjoy — but White House staff successfully convinced him to temper his approach by Thursday afternoon, according to the outlet.
“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress … I didn’t create this mess, I’m just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness.”
The reconciliation signals became clearer when Ackman posted his peace plea on X, writing, “I support @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk and they should make peace for the benefit of our country.”
“You’re not wrong,” Musk responded at around 9:30 Thursday night, hours after implying the president was implicated in Jeffrey Epstein’s child sex trafficking ring, threatening to form a third party and suggesting Trump should be impeached. (RELATED: Elon Musk Announces SpaceX Will Not Decommission Dragon Spacecraft After Spat With Trump)
Trump’s signature bill combines his core campaign promises, including expanded tax cuts and aggressive immigration enforcement measures. The package faces critical votes in the Senate, and passed the House by only one vote.
X did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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