He wants to speak to me: Donald Trump on plans to speak to Musk on phone
US President Donald Trump has said he has no immediate plans to speak with tech mogul Elon Musk, amid their escalating feud over the Republican-backed tax and spending bill. However, Trump also hinted he was open to a conversation, telling reporters, "If I were him, I would want to speak to me".Asked whether a phone call with the Tesla and SpaceX chief was on the horizon, 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".advertisementThe latest comments come after a dramatic fallout between Trump and Musk, once considered allies, following Musk's vocal opposition to a Republican tax-cut package championed by the White House. Though Musk hasn't directly addressed Trump in recent days, he has continued to slam the legislation, which included key components of Trump's domestic economic agenda.
The rift became public last week when Musk, who had informally advised Trump during his first term, criticised what the president called the "Big, Beautiful Bill". Trump had initially remained silent, but later told reporters aboard Air Force One that he was "very disappointed" in the billionaire entrepreneur.In a sharp escalation, Musk declared that Trump would have lost the last election without his backing and even floated the idea of impeachment. The tech mogul, who reportedly spent nearly USD 300 million on Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, had previously vowed to reduce his political donations and called for the ouster of lawmakers who "betrayed the American people".advertisementIn response, Trump suggested his administration could sever government ties with Musk's companies, including lucrative contracts involving SpaceX and its satellite internet wing, Starlink.At the height of the standoff, Musk even threatened to withdraw SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft from NASA missions to the International Space Station, a move that would jeopardize the US space program. He later walked back the threat.The strained relationship threatens to ripple through Republican circles ahead of the crucial midterm elections next year. With Musk hinting at pulling financial support and other Silicon Valley donors watching closely, the Republicans risk losing a critical source of influence and funding.Tune InMust Watch
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