'Busy Working On China, Russia...': Trump Dismisses Elon Musk After Public Feud
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Trump and Musk had a bitter feud over the White House's tax bill, where Trump threatened to cut Musk's government contracts and Musk slammed the president for "ingratitude".
US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) dismissed tech mogul Elon Musk, saying he is not thinking about his once-close advisor after a public fallout over the White House's $4 trillion tax and spending bill, and said he wished him well.
'I've been so busy working on China, working on Russia, working on Iran, working on so many things. I'm not thinking about Elon. I just wish him well," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
The two high-profile leaders engaged in a public spat on Thursday after Musk publicly condemned Trump's 'big, beautiful bill", denouncing it as a 'disgusting abomination". Trump said he was 'very disappointed" with Musk and did not know if his friendship with the billionaire former advisor would survive.
However, the feud escalated when Trump threatened to cut Musk's government contracts and Musk claimed that Trump's administration hasn't released all the records related to sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein because Trump is mentioned in them.
The tech entrepreneur even shared a post on social media calling for Trump's impeachment and skewered the president's signature tariffs, predicting a recession this year.
'Can Survive Without Elon Musk'
Meanwhile, Trump said he would look at everything when he was asked about cutting government contracts held by Musk. 'Well, we'll take a look at everything. I 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. Only if it's fair for him and the country," he said.
Trump had suggested he would terminate government contracts with Musk's businesses, which include rocket company SpaceX and its satellite unit Starlink. However, the US president said he did not have any idea about investigations into Musk's companies.
When asked if the US could survive without Musk's federal contracts, he said, 'Yeah they can, sure. The US can survive without almost anybody. Except me."
Trump Dismisses Reports Of Speaking With Musk
Trump also dismissed reports claiming that he planned to speak with Musk privately. 'No, I don't have any plans. Somebody made a mistake. A lot of reporters are calling me. I didn't call any reporter. A lot of reporters have asked me the same question. No, I'm not even thinking about that," he said.
In a series of media appearances, the US president made it clear that he had no intention of speaking to Elon Musk anytime soon. In a separate interview with ABC News, the US President bluntly called Elon Musk 'a man who has lost his mind," signalling no thaw in the escalating clash between the two.
Republican lawmakers and lawmakers and conservative figures are urging both powerful men to end their feud, while former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon urged Trump to start a federal investigation into Musk's companies and deport him.
(with agency inputs)
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First Published:
June 07, 2025, 07:20 IST
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