White House Responds to Feud Between Trump and Musk: "Musk Has Right to Speak for His Companies"

On Thursday, in the midst of the ongoing public fallout between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in on the escalating feud.

Leavitt emphasized that while the president’s focus remains on advancing critical legislation, Musk, as a businessman, has every right to voice his opinions and represent his companies.

The feud, which began as a strong alliance between the two influential figures, has rapidly escalated into a public war of words, particularly over Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill” and its provisions.

In an interview on FOX News Channel’s Hannity, Leavitt responded to questions about the tense situation between the president and Musk, acknowledging the recent public rift while maintaining that the primary focus of the White House is to continue pushing forward the legislative agenda that Trump deems vital for the future of the country.

“Tonight, the president’s focus and the focus of the entire White House remains on passing the One Big Beautiful Bill,” Leavitt explained. She continued by referencing a recent meeting between Trump and Musk, noting that just days before the feud, the president had graciously hosted Musk in the Oval Office, where Musk had praised Trump for his leadership in reducing waste and inefficiency in government. “

On Friday, just days ago, the president graciously hosted Elon Musk in the Oval Office, and Elon thanked the president for his incredible leadership to cut waste, fraud, and abuse in our government, which this One Big Beautiful Bill does,” Leavitt added, emphasizing the president’s ongoing commitment to his legislative priorities.

Leavitt, however, made it clear that the situation had changed quickly. “So the only difference between Friday and today is Elon went back to his companies,” she said.

“And, as a businessman, he has a right to speak for his companies.” This was a crucial point, as Leavitt stressed that Musk, like any business leader, has the right to advocate for his company’s interests, even when his views diverge from the president’s policies.

“But as president, President Trump has a responsibility to fight for this country,” Leavitt concluded, drawing a clear distinction between the role of the president and Musk’s position as a private individual.

Musk’s criticism of Trump’s legislative agenda has caused an intensification of the rift between the two men, which reached a boiling point earlier this week when Musk publicly called for the “One Big Beautiful Bill” to be killed.

The bill, which is a sweeping piece of legislation aimed at overhauling the federal government’s spending and tax policies, has been a key priority for Trump as he seeks to fulfill his promises of fiscal responsibility and government efficiency.

However, Musk has sharply criticized the bill, calling it “an abomination” and accusing it of being “pork-filled,” particularly due to its projected impact on federal deficits.

In a statement made in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump expressed his surprise and disappointment at Musk’s harsh criticism of the bill. Trump, who has long viewed Musk as an ally and supporter, was visibly frustrated by the billionaire’s public attack on the legislation.

“I’m very surprised,” Trump said. “I’m very disappointed.” He further remarked that, despite the support he had given Musk in the past, he was uncertain about the future of their relationship following Musk’s vocal opposition to the bill.

The statement marked a sharp shift from the amicable tone that had previously characterized their relationship.

The situation quickly escalated, with both Trump and Musk taking to their respective social media platforms to continue their public back-and-forth. Musk, who had voiced his objections to the bill on X (formerly Twitter), responded in real-time to Trump’s remarks.

The two exchanged insults, with Musk accusing Trump of becoming overly sensitive to criticism. “He just went crazy,” Trump remarked in his posts, referring to Musk’s opposition to the bill.

Trump also claimed that a key provision of the bill, which eliminates the tax credit for electric vehicles, was the catalyst for Musk’s strong reaction. “I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went crazy!” Trump explained.

This ongoing dispute has a significant personal dimension, as Musk’s company, Tesla, has been deeply affected by policies related to electric vehicles. The tax credit for electric vehicles, which had been an important part of Tesla’s success in encouraging consumers to buy electric cars, is now under threat as part of Trump’s broader effort to reduce government spending and rein in the federal deficit.

Musk, who has been an outspoken advocate for clean energy and electric vehicles, is understandably frustrated by the prospect of losing this financial support.

However, Trump has long maintained that eliminating such subsidies is a necessary step for ensuring fiscal responsibility and reducing the nation’s debt.

The fallout between Trump and Musk began not just as a result of their policy differences but also due to Musk’s departure from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk had been appointed to head up the department, tasked with finding ways to reduce government waste and make federal agencies more efficient.

However, after leading the department for a time, Musk officially left the role last Friday, marking the end of his involvement in government affairs.

Despite his departure, Musk’s relationship with Trump remained a subject of significant interest, especially given the two men’s previous close ties.

During his time leading the department, Musk was praised for his efforts to address government inefficiencies, with Trump publicly thanking him for his work.

The president even presented Musk with a symbolic gift—a key to the White House—during a press conference to mark his exit. However, with Musk’s return to the private sector and his decision to publicly criticize Trump’s policies, the once-collaborative relationship between the two has soured dramatically.

The public nature of the dispute has raised questions about whether Musk’s outspoken criticisms will have lasting consequences for both his businesses and his relationship with Trump.

While Musk’s comments have resonated with some of his supporters, particularly within the conservative and populist wings of American politics, his remarks are also likely to have alienated others, particularly within the Republican Party.

Musk’s high-profile role in the public eye, combined with his strong influence in the tech world, means that his opinions on key political issues carry significant weight.

However, his vocal opposition to Trump’s policies may lead some to question his loyalties and whether he can continue to maintain his status as an influential figure in American politics.

As for Trump, the public clash with Musk is a reminder of the challenges that come with navigating political relationships in an increasingly polarized environment.

While Trump has a loyal base of supporters who continue to rally behind his policies, his public feud with Musk highlights the difficulty of maintaining unity within the Republican Party, especially when personal and ideological disagreements come to the fore.

The tension between the two men underscores the unpredictable nature of political alliances and the personal dynamics that shape them.

In conclusion, the ongoing feud between President Trump and Elon Musk is a significant development in American politics, particularly as both men occupy powerful positions in the business and political spheres.

While Musk has every right to speak out on behalf of his companies, as emphasized by Leavitt, his public criticism of Trump’s policies is unlikely to help heal the rift between them.

The clash over the “One Big Beautiful Bill” serves as a microcosm of the broader ideological divide within the Republican Party, and the fallout from this disagreement will likely have implications for both Musk’s future role in American politics and Trump’s ability to push through his legislative agenda.

As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether the two men will find a way to reconcile their differences or whether their relationship will remain irrevocably fractured.