Trump Says Musk Wants to Talk After Explosive Public Feud
By Amanda Castro
President Donald Trump said Elon Musk is "the man who has lost his mind," brushing off their high-profile fallout despite headlines suggesting the two may soon speak, per ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl. "Not particularly," Trump said about whether he was interested in a call, claiming Musk was keen to speak.
What to Know:
The Trump-Musk alliance is now in tatters after a bitter public exchange.
Musk had pledged $100 million to Trump-aligned groups ahead of the 2026 midterms; that money is now in question.
Trump has threatened to cut off billions in government contracts to Musk's companies, including SpaceX.
Musk signaled a possible retreat late Thursday, backing off his threat to ground the Dragon spacecraft.
Trump advisers are preparing for a prolonged feud that could split the tech and conservative political worlds.
Their spat began over a policy bill and spiraled into personal jabs, including Musk's claim that Trump was referenced in the Epstein files.
Internet users flooded platforms with memes, comparing the two men to feuding pop culture figures.
Follow Newsweek's live blog for the latest.
08:56 AM EDT
Tesla shares rebound slightly after sharp drop
Tesla shares rose more than 4 percent in pre-market trading Friday, a modest rebound after a dramatic 14 percent drop the day before.
The selloff followed the escalating feud between Musk and Trump, who on Thursday suggested cutting government contracts with Musk's companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
"The easiest way to save money in our Budget," Trump posted on Truth Social, "is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts."
Despite Friday's early gains, Tesla remains down significantly for the week.
08:41 AM EDT
Rep says Trump-Musk feud could hurt GOP tax bill
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., warned Friday that the public fallout between Trump and Musk could jeopardize key Republican legislation on taxes and immigration.
"I think for some it gives ammunition and cover to vote against the big, beautiful bill," Zinke said. "It's unfortunate because you have the richest man in the world versus the most powerful man in the world."
Zinke, who served as Interior secretary under Trump, praised Musk's efforts to cut federal spending and said both men were "good complements." But he acknowledged growing unease among lawmakers.
"I would say the fight of the egos does put the reconciliation bill in greater jeopardy," he said. "I think that's a fair assessment."
08:28 AM EDT
Russia offers political asylum to Elon Musk over Trump feud
Elon Musk White House
Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2025. ALLISON ROBBERT/AFP via Getty Images
A Russian official said the American billionaire Elon Musk could be offered political asylum in Russia over his fierce dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, commented to Russian state news outlet TASS.
"I think that Musk has a completely different game, [so] he will not need any political asylum, although if he did, Russia, of course, could provide it," Novikov said, in remarks translated from Russian.
Musk and Trump, ostensibly political allies over cuts to federal spending, publicly clashed on June 5 in a series of social media exchanges and comments to reporters.
The dispute's origin is the impact of Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill on U.S. public debt.
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