Washington: US President Donald Trump has praised Elon Musk as a “wonderful guy,” even as the billionaire tech leader continues to criticise a key Senate-backed spending bill supported by Trump’s allies.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump called Musk “smart” and said the Tesla and SpaceX CEO would “do well always.” He acknowledged a recent falling out with Musk but dismissed it lightly, saying, “He got a little bit upset, and that wasn’t appropriate.”
Trump was referring to a now-deleted tweet in which Musk linked Trump to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The post, made earlier this month, caused a storm on social media and added fuel to tensions between the two.
The spat gained momentum on Musk’s 54th birthday, when the tech mogul posted a sharp rebuke of the Senate’s new draft spending bill on his platform, X (formerly Twitter). Musk wrote, “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country! Utterly insane and destructive.”
Musk has been a vocal critic of the bill for months, calling it a “disgusting abomination” packed with unnecessary spending. His concern focuses largely on the bill’s proposed cuts to environmental investments and its potential impact on innovation and clean energy jobs.
Despite the heated rhetoric from Musk, Trump’s response has remained unusually friendly. Musk had previously supported Trump during his 2016 campaign but has since distanced himself from partisan politics, frequently criticising both parties.
Political observers say Trump’s soft tone may be strategic, as Musk remains hugely influential in business and tech circles. With over 180 million followers on X, Musk’s views shape public debates on industry and policy.
The Senate bill continues to face resistance from business leaders and economists, and Musk’s criticism has added further pressure on lawmakers. Meanwhile, Trump’s praise for Musk signals a delicate balancing act—between defending policy and keeping ties with powerful figures.
