2 days ago
The man who has ...: Donald Trump tells reporters when asked when if he will talk to Elon Musk
In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the
White House
announced Friday (May6) that President
Donald Trump
has no intention of speaking with billionaire Elon Musk, even may go ahead and sell his Red
Tesla
that he bought to support
Elon Musk
in March this year. This comes following a public feud that has rocked both men's spheres of influence. The White House also quashed earlier reports suggesting a reconciliation, signaling a deepening divide between the two titans.
The rift, which exploded Thursday (May 5) over Musk's sharp criticism of Trump's proposed 'Big, Beautiful Spending Bill", has sparked significant fallout. Trump's team emphasized that the President is focused on advancing his legislative agenda and has no interest in engaging with the Tesla CEO. 'The President does not intend to speak to Musk today,' a senior White House official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. A second official confirmed Musk had requested a call, but Trump declined.
Trump, undeterred by the spat, personally contacted major U.S. broadcast networks to downplay the conflict. In a call to ABC, he referred to Musk as 'the man who has lost his mind' and told CBS his focus remains 'totally' on his Presidency.
The public fallout between the world's most powerful leader and its wealthiest individual carries high stakes. Trump risks political backlash, while Musk's companies, heavily reliant on
U.S. government contracts
, face potential financial repercussions. Tesla's stock plummeted over 14% on Thursday, wiping out approximately $150 billion in market value, though it saw a partial recovery on Friday.
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