Trump Severs Ties with Elon Musk Amid Fallout, May Give Away Tesla

U.S. President Donald Trump has no intention of speaking with billionaire Elon Musk and is even considering parting with his red Tesla vehicle, the White House confirmed on Friday. The decision marks a sharp and potentially damaging break between two powerful figures.

Officials close to Trump told AFP that Musk had reached out to request a conversation, but the president had no interest in engaging. Instead, Trump is focusing his attention on pushing his controversial spending bill through Congress — the same legislation that sparked Musk’s scathing public criticism and ignited the dispute.

The fallout from the feud between the U.S. president and the world’s richest man could carry significant consequences. Trump faces political risks, while Musk could jeopardize lucrative government contracts tied to his companies.

In calls to several American broadcasters, Trump said he was moving on from the drama, describing Musk during a conversation with ABC as “a man who’s lost his mind.” In another call to CBS, he emphasized his commitment to his presidential duties.

White House officials reinforced this stance, refuting earlier speculation of a reconciliation. One senior official confirmed Trump had no plans to speak with Musk, while another verified that the tech mogul had sought a call.

Tesla’s stock nosedived more than 14% on Thursday as the dispute erupted, wiping out around $100 billion in market value before partially rebounding the next day.

Amid the tension, Trump is reportedly thinking about selling or giving away his red Tesla Model S, which he previously bought during a high point in his rapport with Musk. The vehicle remained parked on White House property as of Friday.

“He’s considering it,” a senior administration source told AFP when asked about the Tesla’s fate.

Back in March, Trump and Musk had even posed for photos in the car during an unusual event where the White House was briefly transformed into a pop-up Tesla showroom — a spectacle staged amid online backlash over Musk’s role leading the controversial Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Despite signs Musk may be trying to lower tensions, such as walking back a threat to cancel SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft program, it remains unclear if the rift can be mended. Trump had previously hinted at halting major government contracts with Musk’s companies, which may have prompted the reversal.

Still, Musk stayed out of the spotlight on Friday, offering no new comments as speculation swirled.

Inside the White House, the dispute is believed to have widened existing fractures. Musk and Trade Advisor Peter Navarro had already clashed, with Musk once branding Navarro “dumber than a sack of bricks” over tariff disagreements. Navarro, however, declined to comment on the feud directly, remarking only that “people come and go from the White House.”

Vice President JD Vance publicly defended Trump, rejecting accusations that the president was “impulsive or short-tempered,” but notably refrained from directly criticizing Musk.

The conflict boiled over earlier in the week when Musk denounced Trump’s high-profile spending legislation as “an abomination” that would deepen the national deficit. In response, Trump lashed out in a fiery televised speech from the Oval Office, expressing deep disappointment in Musk.

The battle escalated with the two trading insults online, culminating in Musk calling for Trump’s impeachment and hinting at the formation of a new political movement.

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