By Burnett Munthali
Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has expressed regret over a series of controversial social media posts he made targeting former US President Donald Trump.
In a statement shared on his social media platform X, Musk admitted, “I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far.”
The apology follows a heated public fallout between Musk and Trump, which played out across digital platforms and major news outlets.
Tensions escalated after Musk described Trump’s tax bill as a “disgusting abomination,” prompting a sharp reaction from the former president.
Trump responded by declaring the end of his relationship with Musk, stating he had no intention of reconciling with the Tesla CEO.
The budget in question, which includes major tax breaks and increased defence spending, had passed the House of Representatives and is now being considered by the Senate.
Musk, strongly opposed to the bill, urged Americans to contact their representatives and demand its rejection, warning it would “cause a recession in the second half of the year.”
In a particularly inflammatory claim, Musk alleged — without providing evidence — that Trump appears in unreleased government documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The White House swiftly dismissed these allegations, calling them baseless.
Trump, in turn, lashed out at Musk, accusing him of disrespecting the office of the presidency and stating that the billionaire had “lost his mind.”
Trump also threatened to cancel Musk’s lucrative government contracts, which are reportedly worth an estimated $38 billion — a significant portion of which benefits SpaceX, Musk’s space technology company.
Over the weekend, Musk deleted most of his posts regarding Trump, including one calling for Trump’s impeachment and another claiming credit for helping Trump win the election.
The situation marks a dramatic shift in their relationship, as Musk was previously the largest donor to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and had been viewed by many as a key ally.
The fallout prompted strong reactions from across the political spectrum, with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon even calling for Musk’s deportation due to his South African origins.
US Vice President JD Vance commented on the rift, saying he hoped Musk would “eventually come back into the fold,” though he acknowledged it would be difficult considering Musk had gone “nuclear.”
While many Republicans have called for reconciliation between the two powerful figures, Democrats have largely stood back, observing the feud unfold.
The public dispute erupted shortly after Musk resigned from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), where he served for just 129 days.
The saga underscores the volatile intersection of politics, business, and personal rivalry — and raises questions about the broader impact of the feud on Musk’s ventures and Trump’s campaign.
