Some Republicans are holding out hope that President Trump and Elon Musk will mend fences after Thursday’s blistering breakup of the bromance, which captivated Washington and left the social gathering’s “huge, stunning invoice” hanging within the stability.
The eager for concord comes amid a Republican dash on Capitol Hill to finalize the Trump megabill — which Musk trashed — and because the social gathering appears forward to the 2026 midterm elections, which the billionaire is threatening to shake up by suggesting he might go after lawmakers who help the bundle.
“I used to be with the president within the Oval Workplace yesterday afternoon as a few of this was unfolding, and I can let you know, as he mentioned in his personal phrases, he was simply, he was disillusioned, and I used to be shocked by Elon’s sudden opposition,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) advised reporters Friday when requested if Trump has any curiosity in mending fences.
“I hope they reconcile,” he added. “I consider in redemption. That is a part of my worldview, and I feel it is good for the social gathering and the nation if all that is labored out.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — a loyal Trump ally who additionally chairs the Home’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Authorities Effectivity, named much like Musk’s brainchild Division of Authorities Effectivity — mentioned the 2 ought to bury the hatchet in personal reasonably than on public channels.
“I don’t suppose lashing out on the web is the way in which to deal with any type of disagreement, particularly when you have got one another’s cell telephones. So I hope this will get labored out,” Greene mentioned. “However I’ll let you know proper now that persons are going to be centered on ensuring that we get the agenda that we voted for, and that’s President Trump’s agenda.”
The optimism just isn’t restricted to the Home: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) known as on his 70-year marriage to search out recommendation for the 2.
“I simply heard Barbara Grassley say this disagreement and arguments btwn musk and Trump should finish I do know she loves each musk and Pres Trump. I’d advise u to observe her recommendation,” he wrote on social platform X.
The simmering tensions between Trump and Musk blew up Thursday, solidifying the cut up between the world’s strongest man and the richest particular person on the planet. The back-and-forth started in regards to the sprawling bundle — with Musk calling it “a disgusting abomination” and Trump defending it — earlier than spiraling into private assaults, headlined by Musk alleging Trump is named within the Jeffrey Epstein recordsdata and the president calling the billionaire “crazy.”
“Elon and I had an awesome relationship; I don’t know if we’ll anymore,” Trump mentioned within the Oval Workplace Thursday.
The blowup sapped Musk of much of his clout amongst Republicans on Capitol Hill, with a number of GOP lawmakers siding with the president over the billionaire.
“I’ve had numerous love and respect for you for what you’ve accomplished for this nation over the past a number of months, however you’ve misplaced your rattling thoughts,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), a detailed Trump ally, advised reporters of Musk. “You’ve misplaced your thoughts. Sufficient is sufficient, cease this. I don’t suppose it’s wholesome.”
As of now, it doesn’t seem that the president is excited about smoothing issues over.
After experiences surfaced in a single day of a possible telephone name between Trump and Musk, the president advised ABC Information that he was “not notably” excited about speaking to the previous particular authorities worker, whom he known as “the person who has misplaced his thoughts.”
“I gained’t be talking to him for some time I assume, however I want him effectively,” Trump mentioned to CNN.
Whereas officers near the White Home didn’t dismiss the thought of a dialog between the 2 in some unspecified time in the future, aides indicated this week that they wanted to turn the page on the drama and stay squarely centered on getting the megabill by means of Congress.
Musk, for his half, opened the door to some form of reconciliation: After Invoice Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Sq. and an ally of each Trump and Musk, urged the pair on X to “make peace for the advantage of our nice nation,” including, “We’re a lot stronger collectively than aside,” Musk responded: “You’re not improper.”
Some Trump allies, nevertheless, suppose peace is feasible — and sure.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), who labored within the first Trump White Home and retains a detailed relationship with the president, when requested if there’s any likelihood of reconciling the connection between Trump and Musk mentioned: “I do very a lot.”
He in contrast the scenario to a method utilized by World Wrestling Leisure (WWE) — based by Vince McMahon and his spouse, Schooling Secretary Linda McMahon — of eliminating revered wrestlers solely to deliver them again into the fold in a while, producing pleasure.
“He arrange this complete firm to create heroes inside the total nation of grownup wrestling, after which he would fireplace that particular person, he would eliminate them, after which he would deliver them again, and what would occur when he would deliver them again?” Miller requested. “When he would deliver them again, the WWE inventory worth would shoot by means of the roof and the ranking would shoot by means of the roof as a result of everybody is aware of that that’s the place the joy actually is, is the reunification of those people.”
“So I do consider he’s going to return again, I do consider we’re going to kind this factor out,” he added. “I do consider that on the finish of the day this was actually a bunch of nothing, and that you’ve got a president of the US and now a personal civilian who’re disagreeing with one another.”