Elon Musk, the multi-billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has made a public apology, saying he was sorry about recent remarks he made about Donald Trump, the former U.S president. His mea culpa is the beginning of a significant de-escalation of what had been a blistering public effort between the two that carried vast ramifications in U.S. politics, Musk business affairs, and investor opinion.
/*Feud Flare-Up and Regret Posts*/
After a very public confrontation, Elon Musk posted on his own site X (formerly Twitter): I apologize to President @realDonaldTrump and some of the things I posted last week. They did go too far.” This was in response to Musk firing off a salvo of brash criticism at Trump, urging him to be impeached, his trademark fiscal policy the “Big Beautiful Bill” a “disgusting abomination,” and Trump being linked to unpublished Jeffrey Epstein documents, an incendiary accusation that was soon afterward removed.
/*Private Calls, Public Signals*/
The apology was not posted online alone. Musk supposedly made contact privately, according to Reuters and ABC News, he phoned Trump late Monday night at the prompting of Vice President J.D. Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. This direct outreach, together with deleted posts, seems to be considering a part of some larger detente. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump “appreciates” the gesture by Musk and has no intentions to cancel federal contracts related to Musk companies.
/*Business Stakes and Market Response*/
Musk’s sudden U-Turn is amidst fears of financial consequences. The Tesla stock was also affected greatly when the feud was at its peak- Reuters reports that Tesla shares dipped about 15 percent, removing more than $150 billion of market value in an unprecedented one-day fluctuation. After Musk apologized, Tesla shares rose approximately 12 percent in pre‑market trade. In addition to share prices, the businesses of Musk, namely, most significantly, SpaceX and Starlink, depend on the governmental contracts greatly. Trump had previously threatened to end federal subsidies, should Musk continue his attack.
/*Political Implications and Broader Context*/
This episode is not just about personal animosity, it is about the nexus of big tech, political influence and strategic power in the world. Musk was a large donor, giving close to $300⯀million to the Trump campaign in 2024, and briefly worked in the government as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Analysts believe the apology is partially tactical: Musk is under increasing pressure about Tesla competitive positions and the date of the launch of its robotaxi, which will take place later this month in Austin. Reconciliation reduces the risk of politics and would protect important alliances.