In a shocking reversal, billionaire Elon Musk has publicly apologized to President Donald Trump for falsely claiming the President appeared in Jeffrey Epstein files and for previously calling for his impeachment.
Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk issued a public apology to President Trump at 3:04 a.m. ET, retracting false claims about Trump’s alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein
- Musk deleted several controversial posts about Trump, including his call for impeachment
- The billionaire had a private phone call with Trump before issuing his public apology
- Trump acknowledged Musk’s apology but indicated their relationship is likely over
- The feud began after Musk criticized Trump’s domestic policy bill as a “disgusting abomination”
Musk’s Late-Night Apology
Tech billionaire Elon Musk issued a public apology to President Donald Trump, retracting his previous false assertions regarding Trump’s alleged connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and withdrawing his call for impeachment. The apology, posted on X in the early morning hours at 3:04 a.m. Eastern Time represented a significant shift in Musk’s stance after days of bitter public feuding. Following the apology, Musk removed several controversial posts about the President, including the unsubstantiated Epstein allegations and his impeachment demand that had drawn widespread criticism from Republicans.
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far,” said Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX.
Trump Responds with Restraint
President Trump has maintained a relatively measured response to the billionaire’s apology. In a conversation with the New York Post following Musk’s statement, Trump acknowledged the gesture without indicating any interest in repairing their fractured relationship. “I thought it was very nice that he did that,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States. Despite the conciliatory tone from Musk, Trump’s response suggests the damage to their once-close alliance may be permanent. Trump has also stated he has no plans to discontinue Musk’s Starlink system at the White House despite security concerns that had been raised.
The President has remained relatively distant from the dispute, focusing instead on his administration’s agenda rather than engaging in an extended public battle with the tech mogul. “I’m not thinking about Elon. I just wish him well,” said Donald Trump, President of the United States. This restrained approach has been viewed by many political analysts as a strategic decision to avoid further escalation of a distraction from his policy initiatives.
The Feud’s Origins and Escalation
The falling out between Musk and Trump began when Musk harshly criticized the President’s domestic policy bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination.” This initial criticism quickly spiraled into a full-blown social media war, with both men exchanging increasingly personal attacks. The situation reached its peak when Musk made the explosive and entirely unfounded claim that Trump appeared in Jeffrey Epstein’s files – an allegation Vice President JD Vance immediately denounced as “absolutely not” true. Musk then took the extraordinary step of calling for Trump’s impeachment.
Before issuing his public apology, Musk reportedly had a private phone conversation with President Trump on June 10, suggesting the billionaire may have been seeking to make amends behind the scenes first. This call came after Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s chief of staff had urged Musk to end the fighting, recognizing the damage the public feud was causing to both parties and potentially to Republican unity. Trump has since suggested that the dispute actually helped unite the Republican Party and gain support for his legislative agenda.
Political Fallout
As a consequence of the public dispute, Musk has left his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency in Trump’s administration. The billionaire had been a key supporter of Trump’s reelection campaign and had initially enjoyed a close relationship with the President after joining his administration. However, the recent confrontation has effectively ended their political alliance, with Trump indicating to reporters that he assumes their relationship is over. Despite the tensions, Trump has softened his tone towards Musk in recent days, expressing disappointment rather than direct blame.
At one point during the height of the conflict, Trump had threatened to cut federal contracts to Musk’s businesses, including SpaceX and Tesla, highlighting the potential financial implications of their disagreement. However, following Musk’s apology, it remains unclear whether such measures will be pursued. The cooling of tensions between the two high-profile figures may prevent further escalation, though the political consequences of their public falling out will likely continue to reverberate through Republican circles for some time to come.
