Trump-Musk feud simmers, DOJ charges Abrego Garcia, more updates
What to know about the Trump-Musk feud
President Trump and Elon Musk publicly wished each other well Friday evening, a day after they traded insults and threats, blowing up an alliance between the two men.
Mr. Trump told CBS News’ Robert Costa earlier Friday he’s focused on domestic and foreign policy — and not on his feud with Musk.
Sources say the White House has not moved to oust Musk-aligned staffers.
The two men largely avoided public attacks for much of the day Friday, though Musk mused about starting his own political party, and Mr. Trump said he’ll “take a look at” whether to cut off Musk’s government contracts.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia returns
The man who was deported to El Salvador in an “administrative error” has returned to the U.S. and will face criminal charges, Attorney General Pam Bondi said.
Musk and Trump wish each other well after on-and-off feud
Elon Musk wished President Trump well in a post on X late Friday, as a public blowup between the president and the world’s richest man showed some signs of cooling off.
When asked about Musk earlier Friday, Mr. Trump largely avoided taking swipes at the billionaire, telling reporters, “I just wish him well.” Hours later, Musk replied to a video of the president’s comments: “Likewise.”
Musk also responded “Fair enough” to a video in which Mr. Trump said he will “take a look at” cutting off some of the government contracts that flow to Musk’s companies in the name of fiscal responsibility.
It’s unclear if the mutual well-wishes mark a true détente between Musk and Mr. Trump, who feuded throughout the day Thursday. Mr. Trump told reporters earlier Friday he had no plans to speak with the Tesla CEO, while Musk has continued to muse about starting a new political party.
Trump says “we’ll take a look at” Elon Musk’s subsidies — but “only if it’s fair”
President Trump told reporters Friday his administration will “take a look at” the large federal contracts and subsidies that Elon Musk’s companies benefit from.
On Thursday, Mr. Trump suggested cutting off subsidies to Musk’s companies, escalating a public feud between the president and the world’s richest man. Musk’s two largest companies, SpaceX and Tesla, get billions of dollars from direct government grants and environmental incentives.
When asked by a reporter Friday if he’s still considering rolling back subsidies to Musk as a money-saving move, Mr. Trump suggested he was open to it.
“He’s got a lot of money, he gets a lot of subsidy. So we’ll take a look at that,” the president said on Air Force One. “Only if it’s fair for him and for the country. I would certainly think about it, but it has to be fair.”
Mr. Trump said he doesn’t have any immediate plans to speak with Musk. He remained complimentary of the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency, and largely demurred when asked about his view on Musk, saying he’s focused on other matters: “I just wish him well.”
The president also didn’t comment about reports on Musk’s alleged drug use, saying a New York Times article on the issue “sounded very unfair.” And he said he will not try to take back a symbolic key that was presented to Musk last week, marking the end of his time with the Trump administration: “I don’t take things back.”
The president was optimistic about the fate of the One, Big Beautiful Bill Act, a domestic policy bill that still needs to pass the Senate. Musk’s opposition to the bill helped spark his feud with Mr. Trump.
“We have tremendous support,” the president told reporters.
Separately, Mr. Trump would not say whether it was his decision to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the U.S. to face criminal charges, after he was imprisoned in El Salvador for months following his mistaken deportation. Mr. Trump said Abrego Garcia has a “horrible past.
