Overview
- Speaking aboard Air Force One on October 27, President Trump said he has spoken with Elon Musk "on and off" since they sat together at Charlie Kirk's September memorial and called their feud a "stupid moment" in Musk's life.
- Trump said he has "always liked" Musk and described their relationship as "good," signaling a public thaw following months of acrimony.
- Musk was a major 2024 backer, contributing roughly $290 million, and briefly led the Department of Government Efficiency before departing in May after opposing the spending package.
- The split escalated when Musk posted, then deleted, a claim on X that Trump appeared in the Jeffrey Epstein files.
- Frictions persist with administration officials as Musk has repeatedly insulted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who, as acting NASA chief, moved to reopen SpaceX's Artemis III contract to competition.