Elon Musk says he now 'regrets' some of his social media posts about Trump after fallout
A reunion of the world's richest man and its most powerful may not be imminent, but at least one of them has expressed his regrets as their relationship lies in ruins.
Elon Musk said on X in the early hours Wednesday that he 'regrets' some of the barbs he posted as he and President Donald Trump traded insults on social media, saying "they went too far.'
Musk didn't elaborate in his 3 a.m. ET message on which posts from last week he regretted, and he didn't explain what caused his sudden change of heart.
At the height of their online feud — sparked by landmark spending legislation Trump calls the 'big beautiful bill' — Musk said president wouldn't have won the election without him and accused him of undermining the work of DOGE in cutting billions from federal budgets.
Musk called the bill a 'disgusting abomination' that would land the U.S. in unsustainable debt.
Hours after Musk posted about regretting his comments, the New York Post published a pre-taped interview with Trump in which the president said he had 'no hard feelings' toward Musk. Asked whether he and Musk could reconcile, Trump said, 'I guess I could.'
'I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually,' Trump said in the interview, which was taped on Monday before Musk's early morning posts.
The president also said he was 'not a happy camper' when Musk attacked the Trump-backed reconciliation package.
'I was disappointed in him,' Trump said in the interview. 'But it is what it is. It happens. Things like that happen. I don't blame him for anything. I was a little disappointed.'
Trump on Saturday made clear his disappointment with his former ally, suggesting the U.S. government could cut its lucrative ties with Musk's businesses and prompting the angry Tesla founder to highlight the president's one-time links with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk replied 'Yes' to an X user who suggested Trump should be impeached.
In an interview Saturday, Trump told NBC News that there would be unspecified 'serious consequences' for Musk were he to financially back any Democrat candidates who oppose the government's sweeping budget bill.
The bill has passed the House, but could be rejected in the Senate with just four Republican defections needed to defeat it.
Musk has previously been an influential adviser to the Trump administration and a major Republican donor, leading the Department of Government Efficiency in cutting billions from federal budgets and fronting election campaigns.
The pair showered each other with praise and the president even invited Musk to attend Cabinet meetings. Trump marked the official end of Musk's government role with a ceremony in the Oval Office during which he handed the Tesla founder a symbolic golden key.
But as Trump's priorities shifted to passing his budget bill and Musk wound down his time at the White House to return to his businesses, the relationship soured.
The stakes are high for Musk and his companies, some of which rely on government subsidies. Tesla lost $152 billion in market capitalization in the wake of the spat, its biggest hit ever, but its stock price has since recouped some of those losses.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Circle's Jumps 168% In NYSE Debut, Marking Largest Crypto IPO Since Coinbase
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Circle Internet Financial (NYSE:CRCL), the company behind the USDC stablecoin, raised $1.1 billion in an upsized initial public offering on Thursday, marking its public debut with a 168% first-day gain. Circle's listing marked the largest crypto IPO since Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) went public in 2021. Circle and its shareholders sold 34 million shares—14.8 million by the company and 19.2 million by existing investors—at $31 per share, above the marketed $27–$28 range. The deal attracted demand reportedly 25 times greater than the available shares at the pricing cutoff, underscoring investor enthusiasm. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . Shares opened at $69 and closed at $83.23, resulting in a market capitalization of $18.4 billion by the end of the session. Trading volume reached 46 million shares, highlighting investor engagement on the opening day. Institutional activity played a key role: Cathie Wood's ARK Invest disclosed a $150 million investment, and BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK) acquired about 10% of the IPO shares, according to Bloomberg. BlackRock also manages 90% of the reserves backing USDC via the $53.3 billion Circle Reserve Fund. Circle's IPO arrives at a pivotal moment for crypto regulation in the U.S. The company holds a New York BitLicense—a key regulatory milestone—and CEO Jeremy Allaire told CNBC the firm has been "one of the most licensed, regulated, and transparent companies in the entire history of this industry," adding that the approach "has served us well. The listing arrives as political and regulatory sentiment appears to be shifting in favor of the crypto sector. According to the Associated Press, analysts view the Trump administration's pro-crypto stance and a bipartisan stablecoin bill advancing through Congress as potential tailwinds that could solidify Circle's position in regulated digital finance. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. Analysts cited by Reuters say Circle's success is being closely watched by other crypto and fintech firms considering public offerings. The deal's reception may encourage listings from peers such as Kraken and Gemini, as well as non-crypto fintechs like Chime. The stablecoin market could surpass $3 trillion in the next five years, driven by demand for low-cost, real-time cross-border payments and institutional infrastructure for tokenized finance, CNBC reported. As of June 6, USDC has a market cap of roughly $60 billion, making it the second-largest stablecoin behind Tether's USDT, which stands near $150 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. Circle is entering a crowded stablecoin market ecosystem that now includes the Trump-backed USD1 token, the AP reports, while its USDC remains one of the most widely used stablecoins, even as rival tokens vie for market share. Reuters described the IPO as a broader vote of confidence in tokenized financial markets. Meanwhile, CNBC cited Circle's $25 trillion in cumulative transaction volume and its regulatory-first approach as factors reinforcing its role in the future of digital payments. Read Next: A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: . Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Image: Shutterstock This article Circle's Jumps 168% In NYSE Debut, Marking Largest Crypto IPO Since Coinbase originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
35 minutes ago
Hegseth says the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland if necessary
WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions during a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss military operations. Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee repeatedly got into heated exchanges with Hegseth, with some of the toughest lines of questioning coming from military veterans as many demanded yes or no answers and he tried to avoid direct responses about his actions as Pentagon chief. In one back-and-forth, Hegseth did provide an eyebrow-raising answer. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., asked whether the Pentagon has plans to take Greenland or Panama by force if necessary. 'Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency,' Hegseth said several times. It is not unusual for the Pentagon to draw up contingency plans for conflicts that have not arisen, but his handling of the questions prompted a Republican lawmaker to step in a few minutes later. 'It is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct?' said Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio. As Hegseth started to repeat his answer about contingency plans, Turner added emphatically, 'I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony.' 'We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats,' Hegseth responded. Time and again, lawmakers pressed Hegseth to answer questions he has avoided for months, including during the two previous days of hearings on Capitol Hill. And frustration boiled over. "You're an embarrassment to this country. You're unfit to lead," Rep. Salud Carbajal snapped, the California Democrat's voice rising. 'You should just get the hell out.' Hegseth's use of two Signal chats to discuss plans for U.S. strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen with other U.S. leaders as well as members of his family prompted dizzying exchanges with lawmakers. He was pressed multiple times over whether or not he shared classified information and if he should face accountability if he did. Hegseth argued that the classification markings of any information about those military operations could not be discussed with lawmakers. That became a quick trap, as Hegseth has asserted that nothing he posted — on strike times and munitions dropped in March — was classified. His questioner, Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and Marine veteran, jumped on the disparity. 'You can very well disclose whether or not it was classified,' Moulton said. 'What's not classified is that it was an incredible, successful mission,' Hegseth responded. A Pentagon watchdog report on his Signal use is expected soon. Moulton asked Hegseth whether he would hold himself accountable if the inspector general finds that he placed classified information on Signal, a commercially available app. Hegseth would not directly say, only noting that he serves 'at the pleasure of the president.' President Donald Trump has said multiple times that he wants to take control of the strategic, mineral-rich island nation of Greenland, long a U.S. ally. Those remarks have been met with flat rejections from Greenland's leaders. 'Greenland is not for sale,' Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland's representative to the U.S, said Thursday at a forum in Washington sponsored by the Arctic Institute. In an effort not to show the Pentagon's hand on its routine effort to have plans for everything, Hegseth danced around the direct question from Smith, leading to the confusion. 'Speaking on behalf of the American people, I don't think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland," Smith said.
Los Angeles Times
35 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Gov. Abbott deploys over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops ahead of planned ‘No Kings' protests
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday he has ordered the deployment of more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops, along with more than 2,000 state police, to help local law enforcement manage protests against President Donald Trump and the ongoing federal immigration raids. Abbott's announcement did not detail where the troops were sent, but some were seen at a protest Wednesday night in downtown San Antonio near the Alamo. That protest drew hundreds of demonstrators but did not erupt into violence. More protests are planned on Saturday in San Antonio and across Texas in cities such as Houston, Austin and Dallas as part of the national 'No Kings' movement. Protests earlier this week in Austin and Dallas led to brief clashes with police who used chemical irritants to disperse the crowds. About a dozen were arrested. 'Peaceful protests are part of the fabric of our nation, but Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we have seen in Los Angeles in response to President Donald Trump's enforcement of immigration law,' Abbott said. 'Anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property will be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law.' The Republican Texas governor's move stands in sharp contrast to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, who has publicly clashed with Trump over his decision to deploy National Guard and Marine personnel in Los Angeles. Mayors in San Antonio and Austin have said they did not ask for Abbott to mobilize the National Guard to their cities. Abbott, who has been governor since 2014, has been aggressive in deploying the Guard in the past, particularly for immigration enforcement on the border. Since 2021, the Texas Guard has played a prominent role in Abbott's Operation Lone Star, and thousands of troops have been deployed to help clamp down on border crossings. An agreement with the Trump administration in February gave Texas National Guard soldiers the authority to arrest and detain people for entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico. Texas also has established a permanent border base for Guard troops, an 80-acre (30-hectare) installation that will house up to 1,800 troops when completed. Vertuno writes for the Associated Press.
