Elon Musk called President Donald Trump late Monday night to defuse tensions after a weeklong feud, The New York Times reported, citing three sources briefed on the exchange.
The call followed private conversations Musk had with Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles about brokering peace. By early Wednesday, Musk publicly expressed regret on X, saying this:
The clash had erupted after Musk criticized Trump’s domestic policy, prompting Trump to downplay Musk’s political support. Musk escalated the feud by linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein in now-deleted posts.
Behind the scenes, advisers on both sides sought to contain the fallout. Trump had reportedly considered cutting off billions in federal contracts with Musk’s SpaceX. Meanwhile, Musk, the GOP’s biggest donor, had pledged $100 million more to pro-Trump groups ahead of the 2026 midterms.
