Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly expressed regret over his recent criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a notable shift in the ongoing spat between the two influential figures. Musk, who owns the social media platform X, made the admission on Wednesday, acknowledging that some of his comments had crossed a line.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk wrote on X, signaling a possible effort to de-escalate the tension that has captured public attention in recent days.
The fallout between Musk and Trump erupted last week following Musk’s scathing critique of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill currently under debate in Congress. The legislation has sparked division among Republican lawmakers, with a number of fiscal conservatives opposing it due to its large expenditures.
Musk, a major donor to Republican candidates during the last election cycle, was reportedly considering backing primary challengers to GOP lawmakers who support the bill. That move drew an angry response from Trump, who issued a veiled threat during a weekend interview with NBC News.
“He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” Trump warned, describing Musk as “disrespectful” and hinting at political retaliation, though he stopped short of detailing what those consequences might be.
The public clash highlights a deepening rift between two of the Republican Party’s most high-profile backers. While Musk has not officially aligned with any party, his growing influence in conservative political circles—particularly through his control of X—has made him a powerful player in shaping right-wing narratives.
Musk’s public apology appears aimed at calming tensions, especially as Trump remains a dominant figure in Republican politics ahead of the 2024 election. It also underscores the complex relationship between the tech mogul and the political establishment, one that is increasingly marked by both alliance and antagonism.
Whether Trump will accept the apology or continue to escalate the feud remains to be seen. For now, Musk’s walk-back may offer a temporary cooling of hostilities in a drama that continues to unfold before millions online.
