PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump has denied reports he will hold a call with former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk on Friday, saying he is “not particularly interested” in making peace with the South Africa-born tech mogul, as he has “lost his mind.”
👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and Jonathan Karl.
📍 Where & When: Comments made during a phone call Friday morning; reports of a planned meeting or call surfaced Thursday.
💬 Key Quote: Trump stated Musk has “gone crazy” and expressed disinterest in speaking with him, though he claimed Musk wants to talk.
⚠️ Impact: Trump has suggested Musk’s companies, such as SpaceX and Tesla, may be deprived of government contracts and subsidies to address Musk’s concerns about government spending.
IN FULL:
President Donald J. Trump has rejected reports he will hold a call with former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) frontman Elon Musk on Friday, describing the tech mogul as “the man who lost his mind” in a telephone conversation with ABC’s Jonathan Karl.
Trump suggested on Thursday that Musk had “gone crazy” and questioned whether the Tesla and SpaceX founder, who is attacking the amount of government spending in the Trump-championed “big beautiful bill,” should continue receiving significant federal contracts and subsidies.
Musk, in turn, endorsed a social media post advocating for Trump’s impeachment and replacement by Vice President J.D. Vance, and insinuated the Epstein files have not been released in full because they contain incriminating information about the President.
“As for reports that there is going to be a Trump/Musk call scheduled for today, Trump told me he is ‘not particularly’ interested in talking to Musk, although he says Musk wants to talk to him,” Karl reported following his conversation with Trump.
Reports from POLITICO and Reuters on Thursday indicated that a meeting or phone call between Trump and Musk was planned for Friday, possibly aimed at easing tensions. Karl’s reporting suggests this is unlikely.
Previously, President Trump suggested that Musk was against the “big beautiful bill” because it cuts government support for electric vehicles, which Musk’s Tesla company manufactures. Musk responded by claiming he won the election for Trump and the GOP in November, excoriating the America First leader for his “ingratitude.”