Elon Musk Regrets Harsh Criticism of Trump, Says Posts 'Went Too Far'

 

By Gilbert Mmbaya

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk on Wednesday expressed regret over his recent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a surprising turn in the escalating feud between the two high-profile figures.

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X, where the heated exchange initially unfolded.

Musk, currently the world’s richest person and a former advisor to Trump, made the statement just days after Trump warned him of “serious consequences” if he continued efforts to punish Republican lawmakers who supported a controversial federal spending bill now before Congress.

The public falling-out between the two powerful figures reached a climax last Thursday, when Musk took to X to strongly criticize Trump’s endorsement of what he called a “big, beautiful” spending bill. Musk’s comments sparked widespread attention and debate among political and tech circles alike.

According to reports, several lawmakers who oppose the bill have encouraged Musk—one of the Republican Party’s most prominent donors during last year’s presidential election—to fund primary challengers against GOP members who vote in favor of the legislation.

In response, Trump lashed out in an interview with NBC News on Saturday, branding Musk “disrespectful” and warning that “he’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” though he did not elaborate on what those consequences might entail.

The dispute marks a rare and highly public rift between two influential Republican power players, and comes at a time when the party is sharply divided over fiscal policy and political loyalty.

While Musk’s message on Wednesday appears to be an attempt to de-escalate tensions, it remains to be seen how Trump and his allies will respond—or whether the tech titan will continue to back challengers to GOP incumbents who support the spending package.