Donald Trump is still singing Elon Musk’s praises—even after the billionaire torched Trump’s massive spending bill and reignited their rocky history.
In a new interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo, Trump called Musk “a wonderful guy,” brushing off Musk’s recent attacks. When asked if they’d spoken lately, Trump admitted they hadn’t talked much but doubled down on his admiration: “I know he’s going to do well always. He’s smart. But he got a little bit upset, and that wasn’t appropriate.”
The “upset” came to a head on Musk’s 54th birthday when he slammed the latest Senate version of Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill.” Musk warned on X that the legislation would “destroy millions of jobs” and gut future wind and solar projects. He didn’t hold back: “Utterly insane and destructive,” he wrote, branding the spending plan a disaster for America’s energy future.
Their spat isn’t new. Earlier this month, Musk blasted the original bill as “massive, outrageous, pork-filled,” shaming lawmakers for backing it. He even dragged up old scandals in a since-deleted tweet, linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein—something Trump dismissed as crossing a line.
Still, Trump insists he doesn’t hold a grudge. He hinted that Musk’s frustration stems from electric vehicle mandates, which Trump opposes. “The EV mandate is tough for him. I don’t want everybody forced to have an electric car,” he said.
Despite the bickering, Trump’s message was clear: Elon’s still “wonderful.” Whether Musk feels the same remains to be seen. For now, America’s biggest headline magnets remain unlikely frenemies—sparring in public, but never quite cutting ties.