Politico reported late Thursday that White House aides, in an effort to “broker a peace,” have scheduled a phone call Friday between President Donald Trump and former DOGE chief Elon Musk following a nasty breakdown in their friendship and working relationship Thursday over the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other issues related to Musk’s brief, tumultuous tenure at the Trump White House. (Update at end of article.)
Politico White House reporter Dasha Burns, who reported on the planned phone call, was also able to briefly speak with Trump on the phone about his spat with Musk (excerpt):
Separately, White House aides, after working to persuade the president to temper his public criticism of Musk to avoid escalation, scheduled a call Friday with the billionaire CEO of Tesla to broker a peace.
“Oh it’s okay,” Trump told POLITICO in a brief telephone call when asked about the very public breakup with his onetime megabacker. “It’s going very well, never done better.” Trump went on to tout his favorability ratings saying, “The numbers are through the roof, the highest polls I’ve ever had and I have to go.”
Earlier Thursday, after Trump and Musk had exchanged criticisms, Trump posted to Truth Social, “I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago. This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress. It’s a Record Cut in Expenses, $1.6 Trillion Dollars, and the Biggest Tax Cut ever given. If this Bill doesn’t pass, there will be a 68% Tax Increase, and things far worse than that. I didn’t create this mess, I’m just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
For his part, Musk calmed down Thursday night after going off on Trump in several nasty posts on X. Responding to a poster with (at the time) 184 followers who pleaded with Musk to “cool off” in response to Musk posting as part of his fight with Trump he would decommission the Dragon space capsule relied on by NASA to shuttle astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station, Musk said, “Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon.”
An account with 184 followers has achieved de-escalation between two of the most powerful people in the world. pic.twitter.com/wy0Y7EyvzX
— Joe Weisenthal (@TheStalwart) June 6, 2025
A few minutes later Musk responded positively to a plea for peace by Bill Ackman who posted, “I support @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk and they should make peace for the benefit of our great country. We are much stronger together than apart.”
Musk replied, “You’re not wrong.”
You’re not wrong
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 6, 2025
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement to reporters about Musk earlier Thursday evening, followed by a “source familiar” pushing back on Musk’s broadside against Trump over Jeffrey Epstein.
USA Today reporter Joey Garrison was one of several reporters to post the statements: “WH @PressSec issues statement in response to Elon Musk’s Epstein files allegations against Trump. “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”…”Other points from a source familiar pushing back at the allegations: Everyone knows President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club. -The Administration itself released Epstein files with the President’s name included. This is not a new surprise Elon is uncovering. Everyone already knew this. -If Elon truly thought the President was more deeply involved with Epstein, why did he hangout with him for 6 months and say he ‘loves him as much as a straight man can love a straight man?’”
Other points from a source familiar pushing back at the allegations:
Everyone knows President Trump kicked Jeffrey Epstein out of his Palm Beach Golf Club.
-The Administration itself released Epstein files with the President’s name included. This is not a new surprise Elon is…— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) June 5, 2025
Leavitt also spoke about Musk on Hannity Thursday night:
BREAKING: Karoline Leavitt on the Trump-Musk feud: “Elon can speak for his companies as a businessman, but President Trump has the responsibility to fight for our country.” pic.twitter.com/fFa2LfGDNC
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) June 6, 2025
In a snap YouGov poll Thursday night, Musk was seen as the clear loser in his fight with Trump, especially among Republicans:
YouGov poll – % who say that if they had to choose, they would side with…
ALL:
Neither: 52%
Donald Trump: 28%
Elon Musk: 8%
——
Republicans:
Donald Trump: 71%
Neither: 12%
Elon Musk: 6%
——
June 5 (~6-10 pm ET) | 3,812 Adults https://t.co/vbVQB6VFBB pic.twitter.com/4dses8M94G— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) June 6, 2025
UPDATE: President Trump spoke to ABC News Friday morning, “he’s “not particularly” interested in talking to Elon Musk, and calls him a “man who has lost his mind,” (adding) He said Musk wants to talk to him, but he’s not ready to talk to Musk.”
JUST IN: Pres. Trump tells @ABC News he’s “not particularly” interested in talking to Elon Musk, and calls him a “man who has lost his mind.” https://t.co/uXHDz4tDEK
— ABC News (@ABC) June 6, 2025
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