President Trump said Thursday he was “very surprised” and “disappointed” by Elon Musk’s harsh criticism of the president’s signature piece of legislation working its way through Congress and expressed uncertainty about the future of their relationship.
“I’ve always liked Elon. And so I was very surprised. You saw the words he had for me, and he hasn’t said anything about me that’s bad. I’d rather have him criticize me than the bill. Because the bill is incredible,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will any more,” Trump added.
Trump said Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a close adviser, was upset about the repeal of an electric vehicle tax credit. Trump argued Musk was aware of the policy “from the beginning.”
“He knew every aspect of this bill. He knew it better than almost anybody. And he never had a problem until right after he left,” Trump said. “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Musk responded with a post on his social platform X a short time after Trump’s remarks, repeating his assertion that a bill cannot be “both big and beautiful.”
“Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill,” Musk posted.
“In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that [is] both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this!” he continued. “Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.”
Musk, who spent millions of dollars backing Trump’s election in 2024 and led the Department of Government Efficiency, exited the administration last Friday after his time as a special government employee expired. He was sent off with an Oval Office press event alongside Trump where he vowed to remain a friend and adviser.
But the Tesla CEO has spent the days since leaving the government ramping up criticisms of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a massive reconciliation package that passed the House and contains key pieces of Trump’s agenda.
By Wednesday afternoon, Musk was urging lawmakers to “kill the bill.”
A day earlier, he railed against the legislation in a post on X, which he owns, calling it “an abomination” and “pork-filled” due to its effects on federal deficits.
“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,” Musk wrote in a separate post, while sharing another that highlighted criticisms of Republican lawmakers.
Updated at 12:32 p.m. EDT