Elon Musk Admits His Attacks on Trump “Went Too Far” After Public Feud Intensifies

By Mindi Soren

In a notable shift in tone, Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, publicly retracted aspects of his recent social media attacks on former President Donald Trump, stating that they “went too far.” The admission follows a sharp escalation in tensions between the two high-profile figures, encompassing policy disputes, legal threats, and personal accusations.

From Ally to Adversary

Just weeks ago, Musk, who had been a key supporter of Trump—contributing nearly $300 million to his 2024 campaign—resigned from his advisory role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following growing disagreements. He labeled Trump’s signature legislative package, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a “disgusting abomination”.

Upon leaving the administration, Musk launched a series of aggressive online critiques. Among the most incendiary were unverified claims suggesting Trump’s name appeared in sealed files related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, insinuating that the president’s possible involvement explained the delay in their release.

The Apology

On June 11, Musk posted on X:

“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

While he did not single out specific tweets, Musk subsequently deleted several, including the Epstein allegation and calls for Trump’s impeachment. The public apology marks a distinct retrenchment from his earlier, more aggressive comments.

Consequences for Business

Musk’s outburst sent ripples through financial markets. Tesla shares fell nearly 15% in the wake of the feud, erasing around $34 billion of his own net worth. However, reactions to the apology were relatively positive—Tesla stock rebounded about 2–3% in pre-market trading, partially buoyed by optimism around the imminent launch of its robotaxi service.

Financial analysts have speculated that the apology was timed strategically to defuse tensions and support key corporate initiatives.

Political Implications

Trump’s response to Musk’s retraction has been mixed. The former president previously vowed “serious consequences” against Musk, including threats to revoke SpaceX and Tesla’s government contracts if Musk funded Democratic primary challenges.

A Washington insider notes that Musk may be recalibrating his political posture—teasing a centrist political initiative on X—to avoid jeopardizing his companies’ future contracts and maintain access to federal resources.

Mindi Soren is a freelance journalist and writer for Veritas Expositae

You can reach her at mindi.soren@veritasexpositae.com