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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Trump was pissed': Ted Cruz on Musk's tweets; says he ‘felt like kids of divorce wishing mommy and daddy would stop screaming'
Ted Cruz says he was with Trump when Musk started attacking the latter on social media Senator Ted Cruz described witnessing Donald Trump 's anger while Elon Musk launched a scathing online attack against the US President on Thursday, likening his position to that of a child amidst parental discord. "I was sitting in the Oval as this unfolded. Trump was pissed. He was venting," the Republican senator disclosed on his podcast "Verdict with Ted Cruz" Friday, quoted by the New York Post. "I was sitting there, and the tweets were coming…. Elon was saying some really harsh things," he added. Cruz, who maintains close friendships with both former associates, further described their widely publicised separation this week as "incredibly painful." "These are two men whom I know very well, they're both good friends of mine," he said. He expressed his discomfort with the situation saying, 'I feel like the kids of a bitter divorce where you're just saying, 'I really wish mommy and daddy would stop screaming.'' The Tesla and SpaceX CEO initiated a prolonged social media campaign against Trump, criticising the president's reconciliation bill as "disgusting" and encouraging Congress to reject it. "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate," Musk responded after Trump addressed the growing discord. The conflict intensified throughout the week, with Trump threatening to terminate government contracts worth billions with Musk's enterprises, while Musk alleged Trump's reluctance to release the Jeffrey Epstein files was due to his involvement, a post he later deleted, along with few others. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo "It just went from zero to 11 instantaneously," Cruz said. "These are two alpha males who are pissed off. And unfortunately, they're unloading on each other … They're angry, it's not complicated." Cruz and his co-presenter agreed both parties had valid points - Trump's budget bill required passage, yet Musk's concerns about deficit reduction warranted attention. "Unfortunately, Elon is working under the assumption that Congress actually wants to do the job and save our country," podcast co-host Ben Ferguson said. "And I think Trump is working under the reality that there's a lot of people in Congress that actually aren't looking out for the American people." On Saturday, Musk removed his Epstein files post, indicating a possible retreat. However, Trump remained firm in his stance. "I have no intention of speaking to him," he informed NBC News.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Ted Cruz was with president when Musk's barrage of attacks started: ‘Trump was pissed'
Sen. Ted Cruz was with a fuming President Trump as Elon Musk viciously attacked his former ally online Thursday — with the Texas Republican saying the spat made him feel like he was a kid in the middle of a divorce. 'I was sitting in the Oval as this unfolded. Trump was pissed. He was venting,' the Republican senator revealed on his podcast 'Verdict with Ted Cruz' Friday. 'I was sitting there, and the tweets were coming…. Elon was saying some really harsh things.' The SpaceX and Tesla billionaire went on a multi-day social media offensive against Trump, panning the president's 'big, beautiful' reconciliation bill 'disgusting' and urging Congress to kill it. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,' Musk fumed after Trump spoke out about the simmering feud. Cruz, who's friends with both former bros, called their very public break-up this week 'incredibly painful.' 'These are two men whom I know very well, they're both good friends of mine,' he said. 3 President Trump and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk came to blows on social media this week, ending their bromance. AFP via Getty Images 'I feel like the kids of a bitter divorce where you're just saying, 'I really wish mommy and daddy would stop screaming.'' 3 Ted Cruz talked about the break-up this Friday on his podcast 'Verdict with Ted Cruz.' Verdict with Ted Cruz/Facebook Trump and Musk's tiff escalated later in the week — with Trump threatening to cancel billions of dollars in government contracts to Musk's companies and Musk claiming Trump was holding out on making the Jeffrey Epstein files public because he's in them. 3 Trump and Musk's tiff escalated later in the week. Getty Images 'It just went from zero to 11 instantaneously,' said Cruz. 'These are two alpha males who are pissed off. And unfortunately, they're unloading on each other … They're angry, it's not complicated.' Cruz and his co-host commented that they thought both men are right — Trump's big beautiful budget bill has to get passed but the government has to tackle the deficit more as Musk argued. 'Unfortunately, Elon is working under the assumption that Congress actually wants to do the job and save our country,' said podcast co-host Ben Ferguson. 'And I think Trump is working under the reality that there's a lot of people in Congress that actually aren't looking out for the American people.' Musk on Saturday deleted his post about the Epstein files in a sign he was ready to throw in the towel. But Trump made it clear he wasn't interested in kissing and making up anytime soon. 'I have no intention of speaking to him,' he told NBC News.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Trump-Musk feud: Ted Cruz says pair should 'kiss and make up'
The Brief Sen. Ted Cruz says the country does better when President Trump and Elon Musk are working together. Cruz said he was in the Oval Office when the relationship imploded. Musk and Trump traded several pointed barbs at each other on X. Sen. Ted Cruz on Thursday called President Donald Trump and Elon Musk strong-willed and brilliant, saying the two need to make up because the country does better when they work side-by-side. Cruz said on his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," that he was inside the Oval Office when Musk started his posts on X and the relationship between the billionaire CEO and Trump imploded. What they're saying "These are two alpha males who are pissed off and, unfortunately, they're unloading on each other," Cruz said. "And I wish that were not the case, because I think the country does better when these two amazing heroes are working side-by-side for the country." Cruz went on to say Trump and Musk should "kiss and make up." "I will say, every enemy of America, every Marxist, every person who hates our country, every person who hates freedom, is cheering for this divide to be real, to be deep, to be lasting, to be permanent," Cruz said. "Everyone who loves our country is cheering for Elon and President Trump to kiss and make up." Cruz said Trump was angry while they were in the Oval Office on Thursday. "Elon was saying some really harsh things," Cruz said. "It just went from zero to eleven instantaneously." He went on to say he hopes it goes back to zero just as quickly. "I feel like the kids of a bitter divorce where you're just saying, I really wish mommy and daddy would stop screaming," Cruz said. "I think a lot of conservatives are feeling like this is not good, let's hug and make up." Cruz called both men correct on the crux of the argument, the "big, beautiful bill." "President Trump is right, we have to get this one big, beautiful bill passed. We're going to," Cruz said. "Elon is right that we have to make the bill better. We have to cut more spending and tackle the deficit and debt more than we do. They're both right." Cruz called both men good friends, saying Trump was an "extraordinary president" that would "save this country from absolute destruction" and calling Musk one of the greatest business men, innovators and thinkers "the world has ever seen." Cruz touted Musk's work with Tesla, SpaceX and with the federal government while with DOGE. Dig deeper The rift between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk played out publicly on social media as the two hurled criticisms at the other. "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." — Musk, posted on X Tuesday. He then escalated his criticism of Trump's "big, beautiful" budget bill, with the billionaire calling on Republican lawmakers to vote down the bill and threatened political retribution against those who took Trump's side. "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people," Musk posted on X. RELATED: Musk says 'Trump is in the Epstein files' as public feud escalates Trump said Musk had worn out his welcome at the White House and was mad that Trump was changing electric vehicle policies in ways that would financially harm Musk-led Tesla. "Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump wrote. Trump added: "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!" "Time to drop the really big bomb: Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" — Musk, Thursday, X post. In a series of posts, Musk put the spotlight on ties between Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. The backstory A rift began between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk as Trump pursued tariffs that could raise costs for Musk's businesses. The Associated Press reported that Musk said Peter Navarro, the president's trade adviser, was "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" on April 8. Musk, who had never before worked in public service, apparently started to sour on government. The billionaire suggested there wasn't enough political will, either in Congress or in the White House, to lower spending. Trump began hinting that it was time for Musk to leave even though Musk said he would be willing to stay. Shortly before announcing he was leaving the White House, Musk said he was "disappointed" by legislation that Trump called the "big beautiful bill" because it would increase the deficit. The proposed legislation would increase the deficit while eliminating tax incentives that have helped his electric automaker Tesla. Trump responded by threatening to cut government subsidies and contracts for Musk's companies, and things only escalated. "I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful," Musk said. "But I don't know if it could be both." Musk escalated his attacks on the bill Tuesday, calling it a "disgusting abomination," and Trump tried to fend off the criticism. "He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that will be next," the president said Thursday in the Oval Office during a meeting with the German chancellor. Musk hopped on X to express his anger at Trump, saying his tariffs "will cause a recession in the second half of this year" and accusing him of lying. He also said it was "very unfair" that the legislation would eliminate tax incentives for electric vehicles. The Associated Press noted that Trump responded as he tried to maintain momentum for his legislation. "I don't mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago," the president posted. "This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress." The Source Sen. Ted Cruz's comments come from an episode of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. Information on the Donald Trump-Elon Musk feud comes from the Associated Press and previous FOX reporting.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Was Asked 'Who's the Smartest Guy You've Ever Met?' He Picked Two CEOs, Both Named Larry — And One Even Said He'd Leave Him His Fortune
Elon Musk last month appeared on the "Verdict with Ted Cruz" podcast, where the Texas senator threw him a rare question: Who's the smartest guy you've ever met? Musk didn't hesitate. He named two heavyweights — Larry Ellison and Larry Page — both billionaires, both tech legends, and at one point, both close friends of Musk. "Larry Ellison's very smart," Musk said. "I will say Larry Ellison is one of the smartest people." He added, "You know, Larry Page... there are a lot of people that are very smart." Don't Miss: Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. He didn't stop there. Musk also tipped his hat to Jeff Bezos, acknowledging that Bezos had accomplished "a lot of difficult and significant things" — even if their rivalry over space has stretched on for more than two decades. But when it came to Ellison and Page, Musk had more personal history. Ellison wasn't just impressed by Musk from afar. In 2018, when Tesla was battling lawsuits and controversy over Musk's "funding secured" tweet about taking the company private, Ellison stepped in. He bought a $1 billion stake in Tesla, joined the company's board, and publicly backed Musk, calling Tesla an "amazing company" and describing Musk as a "very close friend." Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. At a time when investors were running for cover, Ellison was standing next to him. Page's relationship with Musk ran even deeper — and ultimately more complicated. Musk and Page once shared an easy friendship, spending long nights talking about humanity's future, space colonization, and artificial intelligence. Musk said he would even stay at Page's house while visiting Silicon Valley. But the friendship cracked. Musk believed AI development needed strict oversight; Page, according to Musk, was "cavalier" about the risks. The philosophical divide led Musk to help launch OpenAI as a nonprofit competitor to Google's DeepMind, and the two friends drifted before things soured, Page made it clear just how much faith he had in Musk. In a 2014 TED interview with Charlie Rose, Page said: "If I were to get hit by a bus today, I should leave all of it to Elon Musk." Page argued that Musk's mission to "back up humanity" by building a future on Mars was a better bet than funneling billions into traditional charities. Musk's answer wasn't about old alliances or loyalty. It showed that even after friendships cracked, companies competed, and philosophies clashed, he could still recognize brilliance when he saw it — and wasn't afraid to applaud it, even from a distance. Read Next: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — . Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved?. Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Elon Musk Was Asked 'Who's the Smartest Guy You've Ever Met?' He Picked Two CEOs, Both Named Larry — And One Even Said He'd Leave Him His Fortune originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FEC clears Ted Cruz of wrongdoing over podcast syndicator's donations to super PAC
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz did not run afoul of campaign finance laws when the company that syndicates his podcast contributed nearly $1 million through a series of payments to a super PAC supporting Cruz's reelection bid, the Federal Election Commission ruled. In a 5-1 decision, the agency dismissed a complaint filed by campaign finance watchdog groups, who alleged that Cruz could have violated campaign funding rules if he played any role in iHeartMedia's contributions to the pro-Cruz Truth and Courage PAC. Under federal law, candidates can only direct or solicit up to $5,000 in donations to super PACs, which can otherwise raise unlimited sums to support candidates. iHeartMedia, a radio distribution and marketing giant, picked up Cruz's podcast, 'Verdict with Ted Cruz,' in 2022. The company gave $961,435 to Truth and Courage PAC through a series of seven donations between March 2023 and August 2024. Cruz was reelected in November, defeating then-U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas by more than 8 percentage points. The Republican senator used his thrice-weekly podcast to boost his reelection bid, promoting the show to campaign rally audiences and using it to reach new audiences. A spokesperson for an iHeartMedia subsidiary has said the payments to Truth and Courage PAC were associated with the revenue it received from selling ads on Cruz's podcast, for which Cruz himself is not paid. The watchdog groups, End Citizens United and the Campaign Legal Center, argued in a complaint that the 'most reasonable and logical inference to be drawn from these circumstances' is that Cruz 'requested or directed' iHeartMedia to donate to the super PAC 'either directly or through his agents.' In its Jan. 14 ruling, the FEC said that there was 'no available information to indicate that Cruz solicited, directed, received, transferred, or spent the funds iHeart paid to the PAC.' 'Instead, it appears that the PAC and iHeart formed a business relationship regarding the Podcast in which iHeart would pay the PAC for the rights to air the Podcast,' the FEC's decision reads. 'Cruz's role was limited to hosting the Podcast and he does not appear to have been involved with the decision for iHeart to pay the PAC, meaning that he did not direct or solicit any funds.' The FEC noted that Cruz and the PAC, in a joint response denying the complaint's allegations, acknowledged that Cruz attended a meeting with iHeart representatives to discuss its acquisition of 'Verdict,' while Cruz's campaign consultant, Jeff Roe, 'attended additional discussions.' Still, the agency concluded, 'the available information does not indicate that Cruz or Roe suggested how the Podcast's profits were to be allocated.' The FEC also cleared Truth and Courage PAC of any wrongdoing related to inaccurate reporting of campaign contributions. The agency notified the watchdog groups of its decision on Tuesday. We can't wait to welcome you to the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Step inside the conversations shaping the future of education, the economy, health care, energy, technology, public safety, culture, the arts and so much more. Hear from our CEO, Sonal Shah, on TribFest 2025. TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
