“We have to straighten out the country,” says former president
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated he is open to forgiving tech billionaire Elon Musk following a series of critical social media posts from the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
In an interview with Pod Force One, hosted by The New York Post’s Miranda Devine and published Wednesday morning, Trump addressed the rift, saying, “I guess I could [forgive him],” while admitting he was “not a happy camper.”
Despite the tension, Trump emphasized a broader focus. “We have to straighten out the country. And my sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it’s ever been,” he said.
The comments come just hours after Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressing regret over some of his previous remarks targeting Trump. “They went too far,” Musk admitted.
According to Newsweek, the fallout began shortly after Musk stepped down from his White House advisory role, where he led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an initiative aimed at curbing waste and fraud in federal spending.
Musk publicly criticized Trump’s flagship domestic policy proposal, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it “pork-filled” and an “abomination.” He also accused Trump of taking undue credit for the GOP’s 2024 election win and hinted at unresolved controversies, including links to the Jeffrey Epstein case and the delayed release of related DOJ files.
In response, Trump reportedly threatened to sever key federal contracts held by Musk’s companies, further intensifying the dispute.
Despite the dramatic fallout, the exchange of public comments from both sides suggests that reconciliation may still be possible as the political and tech worlds continue to intersect.
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