For ads-free news, click here.
President Trump recently opened up about the moment his friendship with Elon Musk began to deteriorate, citing Musk’s opposition to Trump’s decision to eliminate California’s electric vehicle (EV) mandate.
Trump said he was surprised by Musk’s stance, especially since Musk had never voiced concerns about the EV policy in previous conversations. Trump signed the repeal early in his second term, aiming to support broader energy choices, but the move clashed directly with Musk’s business interests at Tesla.
Trump recalled that Musk’s change in attitude came without warning. He explained that while Musk had been supportive during meetings and calls, including those involving economic policy and deregulation, he never mentioned the EV mandate as a problem. Trump said the backlash felt like a sudden betrayal, particularly because he believed they had a shared understanding on business and manufacturing priorities. Musk’s silence on the issue before its repeal led Trump to question the sincerity of their previous discussions.
As tensions escalated, Musk began publicly criticizing Trump’s legislative agenda, including his sweeping tax bill, which reduced EV incentives. Musk even took to social media to denounce the administration’s approach and implied that Trump’s leadership was becoming erratic. Trump responded by suggesting Musk was “getting strange” and accused him of turning on their friendship for personal and political gain. The two, once aligned on free-market ideals and innovation, appeared to be drifting apart rapidly.
Despite their falling out, Trump recently acknowledged that Musk deleted several of his earlier posts criticizing him, as well as a formal apology. Trump took it as a gesture of goodwill and said he appreciated Musk’s decision to take a step back from the harsh rhetoric. While Trump didn’t commit to a full reconciliation, he left the door open for future cooperation, saying that he values loyalty but also understands disagreements can happen.
Today, their relationship remains cautious but not completely severed. Trump expressed openness to rebuilding trust but said he’s focused on national priorities. Musk, for his part, responded to Trump’s comments with a simple red heart emoji on social media, which Trump described as “nice.” Whether the two will fully reconnect is unclear, but both appear to be leaving room for some level of future engagement.
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
