Trump Says He Still Likes Musk 'a Lot' Despite Earlier Rift Over Massive Spending Bill

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he still likes Elon Musk "a lot," offering a positive assessment of their relationship six months after a public feud that fractured their once-close alliance over Trump's signature tax and spending legislation.

Speaking at the close of his administration's monthly Cabinet meeting, Trump was asked if Musk — the billionaire Tesla CEO who briefly led the president's Department of Government Efficiency initiative — was "back in [his] circle of friends" following their earlier falling-out.

"Well, I really don't know," Trump replied. "I mean, I like Elon a lot." He went on to praise Musk's endorsement during the 2024 presidential campaign, while acknowledging their disagreement over electric vehicle policies that were rolled back in the legislation.

Musk was a near-constant presence in the White House during the early months of Trump's second term, serving as a special government employee to head DOGE, an executive initiative aimed at slashing federal spending, fraud and waste. He frequently attended Cabinet meetings and joined Trump at public events, wielding a symbolic chainsaw to underscore his cost-cutting zeal. Musk's tenure ended in late May, after which he shifted focus back to his businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX.

Musk had been a key Trump supporter in the 2024 election, spending millions to back the Republican in battleground states that helped secure Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump often lauded Musk's DOGE efforts, which targeted federal overspending but drew protests from government workers and Democrats who accused the initiative of politicized chaos and legal overreach.

The alliance unraveled in June when Musk began publicly attacking the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping reconciliation package Trump signed into law on July 4. The bill permanently extended Trump's 2017 tax cuts, boosted funding for border security, defense and energy production, imposed Medicaid work requirements and rolled back clean energy incentives, including electric vehicle tax credits that benefited Tesla. It is projected to add about $3 trillion to the national debt over a decade while cutting $4.46 trillion in tax revenue.

Musk called the measure a "disgusting abomination" on X, formerly Twitter, labeling it the "biggest debt ceiling increase in history" and accusing it of pork-barrel spending that undermined DOGE's goals. In a personal jab, he claimed Trump appeared in Jeffrey Epstein-related files, escalating the spat. Trump fired back, suggesting Musk's opposition stemmed from the EV subsidy cuts and expressing disappointment in the man he once called a close ally.

The president had earlier tied the rift to his decision to sign congressional resolutions in June ending California's electric vehicle sales mandates and diesel engine restrictions, moves he celebrated as "killing the California mandates forever." Musk later offered limited support for some Trump policies, such as a July ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.

Signs of reconciliation emerged in September, when Musk and Trump were spotted together at the memorial for Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Sept. 10. They sat side-by-side and conversed during the event. Musk also attended a White House dinner on Nov. 18 with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and business leaders.

DOGE, which Musk co-led with Vivek Ramaswamy, was quietly disbanded in November — eight months ahead of its July 2026 charter expiration — after failing to deliver on promises of $1 trillion in cuts, settling for far smaller reductions amid legal challenges and internal friction. Critics, including whistleblowers, accused it of endangering programs like Social Security data security and foreign aid, potentially contributing to thousands of deaths abroad. The administration has since institutionalized some DOGE principles across agencies without a centralized structure.

Tuesday's Cabinet meeting was Trump's ninth since taking office in January, matching the total held by former President Joe Biden over four years. Trump described 2025 as "the most consequential and successful first year of any administration."