US President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his dismay over recent remarks made by Elon Musk, following the billionaire’s harsh critique of the administration’s signature policy bill.
Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz—who remained silent throughout the exchange—Trump offered his first public reaction to Musk’s statements, signaling potential strain in their once-close relationship.
Trump acknowledged that his rapport with Musk had been strong in the past, but expressed uncertainty about whether it would remain intact. “Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump stated when asked about Musk’s comment describing the bill as an “abomination.”
He added that Musk had been more involved in the legislation’s development than most people in the room and appeared puzzled by the billionaire’s sudden opposition.
“I’m very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here… All of a sudden, he had a problem,” Trump remarked.
In swift response, Musk took to his social media platform, X, where he rejected Trump’s suggestion that he had previewed the bill before its public release. “False,” Musk wrote, denying any such knowledge, and appended a brief comment, “Whatever,” above a video clip of Trump asserting Musk’s anger was rooted in the elimination of electric vehicle subsidies.
This public fallout is unfolding just days after Trump hosted a widely publicized farewell for Musk in the Oval Office, marking the end of the entrepreneur’s tenure at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an office he had led with a focus on budgetary restraint. That event made headlines not only for the occasion itself but also because Musk arrived with a visible black eye, which he attributed to an incident involving his son.
Recalling the scene, Trump told reporters, “You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We’ll get you a little makeup.” But, Trump added, “He said, ‘No, I don’t think so,’ which is interesting and very nice. He wants to be who he is.”
The president acknowledged that Musk might have personal reasons to feel dissatisfied, citing his decision to withdraw a NASA nominee favored by the tech executive as one possible source of tension. Still, the broader conflict revolves around Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, which he has hailed as the “big, beautiful bill” at the heart of his domestic policy agenda.
The bill is poised to be a defining legislative accomplishment of his second term and a crucial factor in shaping the Republican Party’s prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.
Musk, however, has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the bill. On Tuesday, he described it as a “disgusting abomination,” a characterization that swiftly went viral. By the following day, he had escalated his opposition, calling on congressional Republicans to reject the bill and pursue an alternative that avoids significantly increasing the national deficit.
What you should know
President Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, designed to bolster his second-term domestic agenda, is facing fierce opposition from Elon Musk.
Once considered a close ally, Musk has condemned the bill’s fiscal impact and called for its rejection—opening a rare public rift between the tech mogul and the White House.
