The tense détente between U.S. President Donald Trump and tech industry billionaire Elon Musk has so far held, with their respective staffs making contact on Friday, two White House officials told Politico.
One of the insiders mentioned Trump's recent silence on Truth Social regarding Musk, saying, "He's stopped posting, but that doesn't mean he's happy."
The official, who asked for anonymity, also said that "The future of their relationship is totally uncertain." Although both Trump and Musk have recently retreated from public feuding—ranging from impeachment threats issued by Musk to Trump's threats to cancel federal contracts granted to Musk's businesses—sources indicate that this lull wasn't something that either of them wanted.
Trump was said to be infuriated by Musk's suggestion of his purported connection to Jeffrey Epstein, particularly when Musk stated that the president's name was "in the Epstein files." While Trump is indeed mentioned in publicly available court documents associated with Epstein, no improper activity has been established. What most enraged Trump, officials said, was Musk's suggestion that the president's political fortunes depended on his support, including large contributions to his campaigns.
Their beef occurred at a sensitive moment, when Trump and Republican leaders were trying to drive a big legislative package—the best that may be touted as possibly Trump's most significant second-term policy achievement. Musk took to Twitter to denounce the bill as a "MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK."
On being approached for comment, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said to Politico, "As President Trump himself has said, he is pressing on with his focus on passing the One Big Beautiful Bill."
These behind-the-scenes negotiations by aides come after reports indicated that Musk could talk to senior White House officials, but a direct talk with Trump seems unlikely as of now.
The tension between the two had been simmering even prior to last week's cyber sparring. Trump had become irritated with Musk's overblown statements on Dogecoin's ability to revolutionize federal operations. The White House move to withdraw Jared Isaacman's nomination to head NASA—a decision that was said to have been backed by Musk—poured more fuel to the fire.
One of Trump's most senior officials informed Fox News reporter Peter Doocy that no direct call is in the works between Trump and Musk at present. "Musk wants a call. POTUS hasn't made a decision," a Fox News source close to the issue reported, suggesting that Trump is still indecisive, notably on speaking on Friday.
White House staff director Sergio Gor, who manages these interactions, has had a strained relationship with Musk, according to both officials.
Tensions mounted after Musk declined to work with Gor, after a March Cabinet session in which Trump again asserted agency heads' control over the billionaire entrepreneur. The meeting followed Musk's mass layoffs and threats to federal employees, moves that have ignited court battles and attracted bipartisan criticism.
While most Republican strategists feel that Trump would still have the upper hand in any re-eruption of conflict, they do recognize Musk as a singular force: the wealthiest man in the world with a social media presence that is on par with presidential clout.
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