Donald Trump ready to talk as Elon Musk feud explodes over GOP tax bill, campaign cash, and billion-dollar government deals
President Donald Trump has said he is not currently planning a phone call with Elon Musk, though he indicated he is open to the idea. 'If I were him, I would want to speak to me,' Trump told reporters. When asked if a call was being arranged, Trump responded, 'Umm I haven't really thought about it actually. I would imagine he wants to speak to me. Maybe he's already called. You'd have to ask him. Ask him if he's already called. But I'd have no problems with it.'
Rift over Republican tax bill deepens
The comments follow a visible rift between Trump and Musk, who were once seen as aligned. Musk has recently voiced strong opposition to the Republican-supported tax and spending bill, which the Trump camp has been actively promoting. Musk has not mentioned Trump by name in recent days, but he has remained vocal in his criticism of the bill, which contains elements central to Trump's economic strategy.
The tension between the two grew last week when Musk publicly criticized the legislation, calling out Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill.' While Trump initially avoided commenting, he later expressed disappointment in Musk during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.
Musk's political influence now in question
Musk escalated the situation further by claiming Trump wouldn't have won the last election without his support. He also hinted at impeachment and suggested he would cut political contributions. Reports indicate Musk spent nearly $300 million backing Trump's 2024 campaign. In addition, he called for the removal of lawmakers he said 'betrayed the American people.'
Trump countered by suggesting that his administration could re-evaluate its business relationships with Musk's companies, including government contracts involving SpaceX and Starlink. At one point, Musk warned he might pull SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from NASA missions to the International Space Station, though he eventually walked back the threat.
Fallout could reshape GOP's financial landscape
With the Republican Party preparing for the 2026 midterms, the strain between Trump and Musk could have broader implications. Musk's potential withdrawal of financial support — and the reaction of other Silicon Valley donors — may affect party strategy, funding, and influence heading into the elections.The Trump–Musk standoff could reshape Republican funding strategies and party dynamics heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
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Hans India
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MyVoice: Views of our readers 11th June 2025
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Mahadevan is among the hundreds of thousands of Indian shrimp farmers bracing for the impact of Trump's trade wars and is worried the 26% tariff could make his product too expensive in the U.S. market, the top destination for Indian shrimp. Live Events "If I shut down my farm, the idle ponds and machinery will be ruined, and restarting will become more difficult," said Mahadevan in the town of Karhiripulum in Tamil Nadu state. "But (I have) no other option, I cannot afford to sell my shrimp any cheaper." Indian negotiators won a 90-day pause in the tariff increase, keeping the tariff on exports at 10% until July, while pushing for a broader trade deal with the United States by the end of the year. But for the hundreds of thousands of farmers raising vannamei shrimp - a fast-growing species farmed in small saline ponds along the country's coastal districts - any increase in the cost of sending their product to the United States could put them out of business. 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