Elon Musk admits he ‘went too far’ in Trump feud after explosive fallout

Just days after a very public clash with US President Donald Trump that lit up social media, tech billionaire Elon Musk took a notable step back, admitting he "went too far" with his comments and expressing regret over his online tirades.

In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk wrote: “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

The statement marks a de-escalation in a spat that erupted after Musk's vocal criticism of Trump’s newly introduced spending bill—a legislative move the Tesla CEO called fiscally reckless and at odds with conservative values.

The confrontation reached a boiling point when Musk resigned from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created advisory body, citing fundamental disagreements over the bill. In a scathing interview with CBS News, Musk declared:

“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.”

He didn’t stop there. Musk took to social media, urging Americans to pressure Congress to “kill the bill,” and called it a “disgusting abomination,” directly challenging the Republican leadership.

“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong,” he posted. Trump fired back on Truth Social, lamenting the breakdown of what he described as a previously “great relationship.”

“Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”

Musk, in turn, claimed credit for Trump’s political success, suggesting that without his influence, the GOP would have fared far worse in recent elections. He even floated the idea of founding a centrist political party.

Tensions peaked when Musk tweeted that “Trump is in the Epstein files,” a post he later deleted — likely a signal of second thoughts amid the deepening rift. Meanwhile, Trump hinted at possible retaliation, including revoking federal contracts with Musk’s companies.

The feud underscores the volatility of once-aligned power players now diverging over policy, personality, and political ambition. As Musk attempts to walk back his more inflammatory remarks, the long-term impact on his political capital — and business interests — remains to be seen.