DONALD Trump expressed his “disappointment” with Elon Musk after their recent public disagreement, yet he remains open to reconciling with the billionaire.
The president made the remarks to Miranda Devine on the debut episode of the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast.
While he made it clear he wasn’t happy with the spat, Trump left the door open to a reconciliation – although said he doesn’t see it as a priority.
“Look, I have no hard feelings,” Trump told the podcast.
“I was really surprised that that happened. He went after a bill that’s phenomenal.
“He just — I think he feels very badly that he said that, actually.”
Musk and Trump’s online row ignited last week, with the pair exchanging barbs over social media channels.
The Tesla and SpaceX boss blasted Trump’s flagship spending bill, which he believes with further balloon the US national debt.
Musk also shared posts on X suggesting Trump was named in the “Epstein files” and calling for the president to be impeached.
He has since expressed regret over “some” of the comments he made during the row.
Musk posted on X that some of his comments “went too far”.
Trump hit back at Musk on Truth Social, suggesting the billionaire is a “big-time drug addict”.
“I was disappointed in him, but, you know, it is what it is”, Trump told the podcast.
“That happens. Things like that happen. I don’t blame him for anything. I was a little disappointed.”
Just days before their falling out, Trump had held a send-off for Musk in the Oval Office as the billionaire bowed out of his government role.
When asked by Devine whether Trump could get back on warmer terms with Musk, the president didn’t rule out a reconciliation.
He said: “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.”
Trump added that “Elon agrees” with the merchandised catchphrase “Trump was right about everything”.
It marks a change of tone from Trump just days after he said Musk had “lost his mind.”
Devine asked him: “You said he had problems. What kind of problems? I mean, is it the drugs?”
“I don’t know what his problem is, really. I don’t know,” Trump replied.
“I haven’t thought too much about him in the last little while, but the bill is so good.”
Musk had been one of Trump’s most ardent supporters during last year’s presidential election.
But he hasn’t shied away from criticising some of the administration’s policies, such as around tariffs.
While Musk has backed down from some of his most strident comments about Trump last week, it remains unclear if the pair will fully reconcile.
Trump had warned there would be “serious consequences” if Musk financially backed his political opponents.
