Trump to sell his Tesla car as feud with Musk carries risks for both: Report
US President Donald Trump planned to sell the red Tesla car he said he bought in March, according to local media reports.
Trump originally purchased the car to demonstrate his support for Elon Musk amid a backlash over his role in the administration, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting The New York Times.
"Administration officials said Mr Trump showed little interest in engaging with Mr Musk, even after the billionaire signalled he would be open to de-escalating the fight" they currently have, the report added.
Late Thursday, Musk backed off a threat to "immediately" decommission SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft, which transports NASA astronauts and supplies to and from the International Space Station.
A short time later, when Bill Ackman, the hedge-fund billionaire, posted on social media that the two men "should make peace for the benefit of our great country," Musk responded, "You're not wrong."
"For Musk, a prolonged feud with Trump could be hugely expensive," noted the report. His companies, including SpaceX, have benefited from billions of dollars in government contracts and were positioned to receive billions more.
On Thursday, Trump threatened to end those contracts.
The feud is risky for Trump as well, it added. Musk, the world's richest person, who spent about 275 million US dollars to help elect Trump in 2024, had promised to give 100 million dollars to groups controlled by the president's team before the 2026 midterms.
Those funds have yet to be delivered and are now very much in doubt.
This also comes against the backdrop of Elon Musk's threat, which he later retracted, to cut off NASA's use of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft would be a huge blow to NASA, depriving the space agency of the only American vehicle capable of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station and dramatically changing how NASA would access the $100 billion orbiting laboratory, The Washington Post has reported.
The threat, posted on X, came during an escalating fight between the wealthiest man in the world and President Donald Trump, after Trump had threatened to cancel all of Musk's company's
federal contracts
.
"Given SpaceX's importance to multiple federal programs, severing those relationships could leave NASA as well as the Pentagon and intelligence agencies in a lurch," noted the report.
Several hours after making the threat, Musk relented, saying in response to a post on X that he should cool off and reconsider: "Ok, we won't decommission Dragon."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
A Warning, 'Wish Elon Well' and ...: 7 Things that Donald Trump has said about Elon Musk after their BIG Fight
President Donald Trump is reportedly backing off his battle with Elon Musk. According to news reports, in a telephone interview with NBC News, when asked if his relationship with Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, "I would assume so, yeah." "No," Trump told NBC when asked if he had any desire to repair his relationship with Elon Musk. "I have no intention of speaking to him," Trump said. Donald Trump's warning to Elon Musk The President also issued a warning amid reports that Musk could back Democratic lawmakers and candidates in the 2026 midterm elections. 'If he does, he'll have to pay the consequences for that,' Trump reportedly told NBC. Trump, however, declined to say what those consequences would be, and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk. Donald Trump: Wish Elon Musk well by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo When asked about Elon Musk, Trump said, 'Honestly, I've been so busy working on China, working on Russia, working on Iran. I'm not thinking about Elon, and I just wish him well.' Donald Trump: Wish Tesla Well, and not thought of what to do with the Tesla he bought as yet When Trump was asked about Tesla, he said, "I hope Elon Musk does well with Tesla." On being asked more pointedly what he plans to do with the Tesla he bought to support Elon Musk in March, he said he has not yet thought of it. There have been speculations that the President plans to sell his Tesla. Donald Trump is not taking the key he gifted to Elon Musk back President Trump said he won't take back the White House key he gifted to Elon Musk just days ago. Donald Trump on Elon Musk being called a drug addict: Sounds Unfair Responding to a New York Times article about Elon Musk's alleged drug use, Trump said, "I don't want to comment on this news, I don't know what his status is and I read an article in The New York Times and I thought it was, frankly it sounded very unfair to me." President Trump on canceling Elon Musk's contracts "We'll take a look at everything. He's got a lot of money. He gets a lot of subsidies, so we'll take a look at that only if it's fair for him and for the country. I would certainly think about it yeah but it has to be fair." AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Iran says US travel ban reflects 'racist mentality'
Tehran denounced on Saturday the US travel ban on Iranians and citizens of 11 other mostly Middle Eastern and African countries, saying Washington's decision was a sign of a " racist mentality ". US President Donald Trump signed on Wednesday an executive order reviving sweeping restrictions that echo his first-term travel ban, justified on national security grounds following a firebomb attack at a pro-Israel rally in Colorado. Alireza Hashemi-Raja, the foreign ministry's director general for the affairs of Iranians abroad, called the measure, which takes effect June 9, "a clear sign of the dominance of a supremacist and racist mentality among American policymakers". The decision "indicates the deep hostility of American decision-makers towards the Iranian and Muslim people", he added in a statement released by the ministry. Apart from Iran, the US ban targets nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. A partial ban was imposed on travellers from seven other countries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo Hashemi-Raja said the policy "violates fundamental principles of international law" and deprives "hundreds of millions of people of the right to travel based solely on their nationality or religion". The foreign ministry official said that the ban was discriminatory and would "entail international responsibility for the US government", without elaborating. Iran and the US severed diplomatic ties shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and relations have remained deeply strained since. Live Events
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
Who is Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American tennis star, who has defeated the world No. 1
Credit: X/@rolandgarros Coco Gauff pulled off a sensational comeback to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open final on Saturday, securing her second Grand Slam singles title. With this win, the 21-year-old American tennis star has once again proven she's not just a rising talent — she's a force to be reckoned with. But beyond the court, Gauff's life is a mix of ambition, balance, and growing influence. — Phil_Lewis_ (@Phil_Lewis_) The making of a star Gauff burst into the global spotlight in 2019 at just 15 years old when she defeated her idol Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon. That victory sparked a meteoric rise. Her first Grand Slam win came at the 2023 U.S. Open, and her second — the French Open triumph this weekend — solidifies her place among the sport's elite. Raised in Delray Beach, Florida, Coco comes from an athletic family: her father played college basketball, and her mother was a track and field star. That discipline shaped her into a focused competitor with a maturity well beyond her years. Brains and Balance Even while building a professional tennis career, Gauff has kept education in focus. She completed high school in 2022 through online classes and has continued her learning journey through college-level courses remotely. Her parents have emphasized that education remains a cornerstone, and Coco has echoed that belief in interviews, often saying she wants to be more than just a tennis player. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo Source: X Net worth and endorsements In 2025, Coco Gauff's net worth is estimated between $3.5 million and $21.7 million. Forbes lists the upper figure, while most financial outlets place it closer to $10–$12 million. Her earnings are driven largely by more than $15 million in career prize money, including payouts from the 2023 U.S. Open and 2025 French Open wins, as well as a portfolio of lucrative endorsements. Gauff's brand partnerships are a who's who of global names: New Balance (where she has her own apparel line and an upcoming signature shoe), Barilla, Rolex, Head, Bose, and UPS. Her collaboration with New Balance is especially significant, positioning her not just as an athlete but as a marketable icon in fashion and lifestyle. Source: X/@_MissLeandra Love life and lifestyle While Gauff keeps her private life largely out of the spotlight, in a 2024 interview with the People she confirmed being in a relationship with someone who comes from a non-tennis background. Despite her rising fame, Gauff remains grounded. She travels with her family when possible, enjoys watching anime, and is known to unplug from social media when the pressure of competition builds. At 21, Coco Gauff has already accomplished more than most athletes twice her age. With two Grand Slam titles under her belt and a steady climb in the WTA rankings, she's poised for a dominant run. But it's not just her skill that sets her apart — it's her poise, her perspective, and her ability to inspire.
