Elon Musk expresses regret over Trump criticisms: says some of his posts ‘went too far’

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk said Wednesday that he regretted some of his recent social media posts about U.S. President Donald Trump, acknowledging they may have gone “too far.” 

The statement marks a possible thaw in tensions between the two influential figures after a public fallout.

The dispute escalated last week when Musk called Trump’s tax and spending legislation a “disgusting abomination” and signaled support for the president’s impeachment. In response, Trump declared their relationship “over” on Saturday. Musk has since deleted several critical posts, including those advocating impeachment.

Sources close to Musk say he has begun to cool down and may be considering mending ties. Analysts suggest Musk’s change in tone could be a strategic move to protect his business interests, particularly given Tesla and SpaceX’s reliance on federal contracts and regulatory goodwill.

“I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far,” Musk posted Wednesday on his platform X, without specifying which posts he was referring to. Following his comment, Tesla shares rose 2.3% in pre-market trading.

“The shift in Musk’s tone suggests he’s trying to safeguard his business interests,” said Mamta Valechha, an analyst at Tesla investor Quilter Cheviot.

Matthew Britzman, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, noted that both Musk and Trump seemed to be de-escalating. “It’s unlikely they’ll be close again, but neither benefits from ongoing conflict,” he said.

Shawn Campbell, an investor at Camelthorn Investments and Tesla shareholder, echoed the sentiment. “Their relationship may be repaired, but it’s unlikely to return to what it was. The stakes are enormous—government contracts, regulatory power, and political influence,” he said.

Political Ties and Fallout

Musk was a major financial backer of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, contributing nearly $300 million during the 2023 election cycle. He even took credit for Republicans maintaining control of the House and reclaiming the Senate.

Trump later appointed Musk to lead a government efficiency task force aimed at downsizing the federal workforce and reducing spending. However, Musk resigned from the role last month after criticizing Trump’s flagship tax bill, arguing it was overly expensive and counterproductive.

After their public rift, Trump warned there would be “serious consequences” if Musk funded Democratic challengers to Republicans who supported the bill. He also said he had no interest in reconciling with Musk.

Yet by Monday, Trump appeared to soften his stance, saying he wouldn’t object if Musk called him and had no plans to cut off Starlink services to the White House, despite hinting he might relocate his Tesla operations. “We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well,” Trump said.

In response, Musk posted a heart emoji under a video clip of Trump’s remarks.

Tesla shares have since bounced back, recovering the $150 billion in market value lost during last Thursday’s public spat.