I’m very disappointed in Musk – Trump
US President Donald Trump expressed deep disappointment on Thursday over Elon Musk’s public criticism of his signature “big, beautiful bill,” casting doubt on whether their once-close friendship can survive the fallout.
Speaking from the Oval Office with visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz quietly observing, Trump gave his first candid remarks about the escalating clash with the tech billionaire and former advisor.
“Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore. I was surprised,” Trump told reporters. “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.”
Musk swiftly responded on his social platform X, calling Trump’s claim that he had advance knowledge of the bill “false.” He dismissed the president’s remarks with a casual “Whatever,” posting a video of Trump suggesting Musk was upset about losing electric vehicle subsidies.
The dispute erupted less than a week after Trump held an elaborate Oval Office farewell for Musk, who recently ended his tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). At the event, Musk appeared with a black eye he joked was from his son, prompting Trump to offer makeup — which Musk declined, wanting to “be who he is.”
Trump acknowledged that some recent disagreements—such as Musk’s backing of a NASA nominee Trump later withdrew—may have fueled Musk’s frustration.
The “big, beautiful bill,” a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term agenda, is a sweeping tax and spending package that could determine Republican success in the 2026 midterm elections. Yet Musk called the legislation a “disgusting abomination” and urged Republicans to “kill the bill” in favor of a plan that avoids ballooning the deficit.
The mounting tensions between the president and the billionaire highlight the fragile alliances shaping the future of US policy.
