Congressional Republicans on Friday urged both Elon Musk and President Donald Trump to end their public feud that escalated sharply a day earlier, with some warning that the spat could torpedo the One Big Beautiful Bill that both Trump and the GOP want passed.
Both Musk and Trump traded barbs on social media on Thursday and Friday, coming after the president broke his silence on Musk’s near-constant criticism of the bill earlier this week. It came about a week after Musk departed the Trump administration after his 130-day period as a special government employee ended.
“We’ve been exchanging text messages, but you know I’m not going to get into the details of what we’re discussing. He’s a friend. Just trying to get everybody to yes,” he said, referring to Musk.
Other Republicans also hoped that the spat would end.
“I hope that both of them come back together because when the two of them are working together, we’ll get a lot more done for America than when they’re at cross purposes,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night.
“I hope it doesn’t distract us from getting the job done that we need to,” Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) told reporters Friday. “I think that it will boil over and they’ll mend fences.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on social media that he likes “both of them” and asked: “Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?” He later wrote, “Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.”
“I’m not watching what Elon is posting. I’ve heard about it, but sorry, he’s not on my phone,” he said Thursday, adding that the bill will provide “the largest reduction in spending” and will prevent “the largest tax increase, in history.”
“The Senate will do their work. They’re going to send the bill back to us,” Emmer later told the outlet. “We are going to pass it and send it to the president’s desk. The time for talking is over.”
On Thursday, Trump broke his silence on Musk’s criticism of the GOP-backed bill and said he was “very disappointed” in him before saying that he and Musk “had a great relationship,” but added that “I don’t know if we will anymore.”
Musk on X said that it was because of him that Trump and the GOP won in the 2024 election, prompting Trump to suggest that he could cut government funding for Musk’s companies. More barbs were traded between the two on Thursday and into Friday.
Earlier in the week, Musk had said that the bill was a “disgusting abomination” and appeared to cite Congressional Budget Office estimates showing it could add trillions of dollars to the U.S. national deficit in 10 years. Both Trump and Johnson, however, have said in public appearances that they believe Musk, who is the chief executive of Tesla, is more concerned about the bill cutting federal credits for electric vehicles.
