White House says Musk’s regret over social media remarks “appreciated” as allies work behind the scenes to mend fractured relationship
Washington DC [US], June 12:
The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged and appreciated the apology issued by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, following a week-long, high-profile spat between the two powerhouses.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, addressing reporters on Wednesday, said:
“The President acknowledged the statement that Elon put out this morning and he is appreciative of it. We are continuing to focus on the business of the American people.”
Musk, in a post shared early Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter), wrote:
“I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far.”
The apology comes after Musk phoned Trump on Monday night, reportedly in an effort to tone down tensions. CNN reports that the brief call followed a Friday conversation between Musk, Vice President JD Vance, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, where the feud was discussed at length.
Asked during the press briefing if the White House was actively reviewing Musk’s federal contracts—an action Trump previously hinted at—Leavitt clarified:
“Currently, no efforts have been made on that front, as far as I’m aware.”
The fallout began after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s domestic spending initiative, dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”, and accused Trump of bloated government waste. His outbursts culminated in now-deleted posts implying Trump was hiding information in the Jeffrey Epstein files—claims the White House dismissed as baseless.
Behind the scenes, Republican lawmakers and Trump allies have been working to mend the relationship. Many, who developed close ties with Musk during his stint as what some dubbed Trump’s “first buddy,” have personally reached out via calls and texts, urging the tech mogul to re-engage with the administration and support Trump’s legislative agenda.
According to CNN sources, Musk remains skeptical about aspects of the bill, particularly around government spending cuts, but was receptive to the outreach and softened his public posture in recent days.
The so-called “Big Beautiful Bill”, which includes domestic policy reforms and electric vehicle incentives, still faces significant resistance in the Senate, making Musk’s potential support both symbolic and politically valuable.
For now, the situation appears to be de-escalating, with both camps treading cautiously and signaling a desire to refocus on governance rather than social media battles.