In a recent podcast interview, President Donald Trump expressed willingness to mend fences with Elon Musk following a heated exchange over a major government spending bill.
Despite their public spat, Trump made clear he holds no grudges and emphasized the need for unity to strengthen the nation.
Speaking on the debut episode of “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine,” Trump addressed the fallout with Musk, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO who once led Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk was tasked with trimming $2 trillion from federal spending but left the position after publicly criticizing the controversial bill Trump supports.
“I was really surprised that that happened,” Trump said of Musk’s criticism. “He went after a bill that’s phenomenal. He just — I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually.”
The spending bill, which passed the House on May 22 and is pending in the Senate, aims to extend key portions of Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while boosting border security and defense funding.
However, it has drawn criticism for its projected impact on the nation’s debt, which already exceeds $36 trillion according to the Congressional Budget Office, per Fox News.
Musk’s public break came on June 3 when he posted on X, condemning the bill as a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill” and calling those who supported it “shameful.”
The tension escalated with Musk accusing Trump of being linked to the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Despite the rancor, Trump remained measured in the interview, saying he was disappointed by Musk’s comments but recognized that disagreements happen.
When asked if the two could restore their alliance, Trump replied, “I guess I could, but we have to straighten out the country. And my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it’s ever been. And I think we can do that.”
Musk has since softened his tone, posting on X that he “regrets some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
Trump welcomed the gesture, telling the New York Post it was “very nice” Musk issued the apology.
The “Pod Force One” podcast is hosted by Miranda Devine, an award-winning New York Post columnist known for breaking major stories like Hunter Biden’s laptop scandal, according to Fox News.
The show aims to offer candid interviews with influential figures shaping American politics and culture.
In the interview, Trump praised the bill’s potential to revitalize the economy and bring stability, saying, “This bill is going to turn around this country so fast your head will spin, and it’s good for everyone.”
The clash between Trump and Musk highlights the challenges in balancing fiscal responsibility with political priorities, particularly when personalities and public perceptions collide.
Yet the president’s openness to reconciliation suggests a pragmatic approach to governance focused on shared goals rather than personal grievances.
As the bill progresses through the Senate, attention will focus on how this public disagreement may influence the political landscape and whether Trump and Musk can reach an understanding moving forward.
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