‘Went too far': Musk says he regrets ‘some' of his posts about Trump
'The conciliatory tone from Musk recently might indicate his desire to protect his businesses in the light of the position he has found himself in,' said Mamta Valechha, consumer discretionary analyst at Tesla investor Quilter Cheviot.
Loading
Tesla shareholder Matthew Britzman, an analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said both Musk and Trump appeared to have de-escalated the situation.
'It still feels unlikely that we'll see these two giant personalities so closely intertwined again, but it's in neither's best interest to let the drama continue,' he said.
Shawn Campbell, adviser and investor at Camelthorn Investments, said the relationship between Musk and Trump could be restored but also said it was unlikely it would return to where it once was. Trump last week threatened to terminate government contracts with Musk's companies.
'The stakes between the richest man in the world and leader of the most powerful nation in the world are just so big, with billions of dollars of government contracts at stake, not to mention the power to investigate and regulate and tax,' said Campbell, who personally holds Tesla shares.
Vance and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles spoke to Musk on Friday, one of the people briefed said. That same day, James Fishback, a Tesla investor and external DOGE adviser, posted on X that the billionaire owed Trump 'a full-throated apology.'
Musk retorted: 'What's the apology for exactly.'
But Musk subsequently deleted several posts, and a senior Trump adviser called Fishback to thank him, according to one of the sources.
Musk bankrolled a large part of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, spending nearly $US300 million ($460 million) in last year's US elections and taking credit for Republicans retaining a majority of seats in the House and retaking a majority in the Senate.
Loading
Trump then named him to head an effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending.
Musk left the role late last month after criticising Trump's marquee tax bill, calling it too expensive and a measure that would undermine his work at the Department of Government Efficiency.
Declaring their relationship over on Saturday, Trump said there would be 'serious consequences' if Musk decided to fund US Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the tax and spending bill. Trump also said he had no intention of repairing ties with Musk.
On Monday, Trump said he would not have a problem if Musk called and that he had no plans to discontinue the Starlink satellite internet provided to the White House by Musk's SpaceX but might move his Tesla off-site.
'We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well,' Trump said. Musk responded with a heart emoji to a video on X showing Trump's remarks.
Tesla shares have recouped all the losses they suffered during the public feuding between Trump and Musk last Thursday, when more than $US150 billion ($231 billion) was wiped off the company's market value.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AU Financial Review
33 minutes ago
- AU Financial Review
Trump's attack on Iran could wipe up to 10pc off equity markets
US President Donald Trump's decision to join the Israeli attacks on Iran on Sunday represents a wild card that many investors didn't expect, and certainly are not positioned for. This will rattle markets, and the scale of the damage depends almost entirely on Iran's next move, not America's. As we've argued consistently in the past week, investors were heavily leveraged to three TACO trades: that the tariff war was over, that Trump's threats against Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell were hot air, and that the United States wouldn't risk expanding the conflict with Iran.
SBS Australia
34 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Donald Trump describes US airstrikes on Iran as a "spectacular military success"
In a dramatic escalation in the Middle East, President Donald Trump says the United States has bombed three nuclear sites in Iran - Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz. Iranian State Television has confirmed the strikes. "At dawn today, the country's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were attacked by enemies of the Islamic Iran in a barbaric move violating international regulations particularly the Non-Proliferation Treaty. This illegal move was unfortunately carried out amid the indifference, even the complicity of the IAEA." President Trump says he felt it was necessary to have the US directly join Israel's effort, saying the strikes are a response to a long-held fears of Iran developing a nuclear arsenal. He says this matter has now been dealt with. "Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. Tonight I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated." Iran's nuclear agency has confirmed the attacks on the three nuclear sites. But it says its work will not be stopped. Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation has reportedly confirmed the attacks issuing the following statement. "Iran's nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan were targeted by the enemies at dawn today in a savage operation that violates international law, particularly the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Regrettably, this violation of international law has taken place under the indifference, and even complicity, of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)." Earlier, US media outlets reported B2 bomber aircraft had been moved from the US mainland to the Pacific island of Guam. Mr Trump has also confirmed that all US planes are safely on their way home after completing the mission. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated the US President for his decision to bomb Iran, claiming Mr Trump has changed history. The attacks come after Mr Netanyahu, who has rallied against the Iranian government and its potential for developing nuclear weapons since the 90s, launched a surprise Israeli assault on Iran earlier this month. Israel itself is believed to have about 90 nuclear warheads of their own. The Israeli leader claims President Trump's military intervention has created a path for peace. 'Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history. It has done what no other country on earth could do. His leadership today has created a pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace. President Trump and I often say, 'Peace through strength'. First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, President Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength.' Questions remain about how the Iranian government will respond to the strikes and whether this could be the beginning of a new US war in the Middle East. President Trump has warned Iran against any retaliation. "This cannot continue. Iran the bully of the Middle East must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. There will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days." The Albanese government has called for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy as fears of all out war between the United States and Iran take hold. A spokesperson for the federal government did not comment directly on the unprecedented strikes but, in a statement, says: "We have been clear that Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile program has been a threat to international peace and security. We note the US President's statement that now is the time for peace." They have also suggested that Australians in Israel and Iran should listen to warnings from local authorities, and the government will be communicating directly with registered Australians about preparations for assisted departures.
AU Financial Review
an hour ago
- AU Financial Review
‘Scarce resources': AUKUS submarine sales at risk from Pentagon review
Washington | The Albanese government is being warned that a Pentagon review risks imperilling Australia's nuclear submarine ambitions if the US administration takes a hardline stance on the threat from China in the coming years. American national security experts familiar with the Trump administration, who spoke with The Australian Financial Review, viewed the most likely outcome of a 30-day review of the AUKUS pact would be a White House push for more investment from Canberra, either in its own defence hardware or for US shipbuilding facilities.
