Overview

• In an interview recorded Tuesday on the Scott Jennings Show, President Donald Trump said Elon Musk "has no choice" but to return to the Republican Party and dismissed the alternative as "radical left lunatics."
• Trump praised Musk as "80% super genius" and said the billionaire would be "great" once he resolves the remaining "20%" he views as problems.
• The relationship broke down after Musk blasted Trump’s signature "Big Beautiful Bill" as deficit‑expanding, with the Congressional Budget Office estimating it adds $3.4 trillion to deficits over 2025–2034.
• During the feud, Trump threatened to cut federal contracts and subsidies tied to Musk’s companies, after Musk had served as a special government employee leading the White House DOGE initiative until his May departure.
• Musk has floated creating an "America Party" but has not formalized it, he has not commented on Trump’s latest remarks, and he remains a major GOP donor.