Elon Musk apologises for harsh comments about Trump

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has issued a public apology after delivering fierce criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, admitting that his remarks went too far.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday morning, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO expressed regret over comments he made the previous week, which had sparked widespread debate online.

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” Musk wrote.

The apology comes after a highly publicised online feud between Musk and Trump, which erupted over a controversial government spending bill championed by the former president. The dispute quickly escalated across social media platforms, sparking political and financial tremors.

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During the clash, Musk—who recently stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—slammed Trump’s tax and spending legislation, calling it a “disgusting abomination” on X. The bill, a key part of Trump’s second-term policy agenda, is projected by the Congressional Budget Office to add $2.4 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade and potentially strip health coverage from 11 million Americans.

Musk, a long-time advocate of fiscal responsibility, claimed the legislation threatened the very cost-saving principles he upheld during his time at DOGE.

In response, Trump lashed out on Truth Social, accusing Musk of “wearing thin” and alleging that he had personally requested the billionaire’s resignation from his advisory post.

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“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts,” Trump posted, threatening key federal deals with Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.

Trump also claimed that removing an electric vehicle mandate had enraged Musk.

The feud intensified when Musk alleged that Trump would have lost the 2024 presidential election without his financial backing—citing nearly $300 million in campaign contributions. He further inflamed tensions by implying that Trump was named in the unreleased Epstein files, sharing a 1992 video of Trump with Epstein, and calling for Trump’s impeachment.

Although Musk later deleted those posts, the damage was already done.

Tesla shares plunged by 14% on Thursday, wiping out $152 billion in market value and slashing Musk’s personal fortune by $34 billion. Meanwhile, SpaceX, a key player in U.S. space operations, faced uncertainty after Musk briefly threatened to halt the Dragon spacecraft program—though he later backtracked on that decision.

With mounting pressure from investors and political allies, Musk’s apology appears to be an attempt to de-escalate tensions and stabilise his business interests.