Karoline Leavitt appeared to have a very diplomatic approach to the pair’s very public fallout
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has addressed the public fallout between Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
The pair are dominating headlines in the news of late in the wake of their very, very public feud.
Musk and Trump were once close allies, but since the tech billionaire’s recent departure from the administration, things between the duo have seemingly taken a turn for the worst.
Musk has publicly criticized the president’s ‘big beautiful bill’ — with Trump later claiming he was ‘disappointed’ by the SpaceX founder’s response.
But away from politics, Musk has accused Trump of not releasing all of the Jeffrey Epstein files because he’s named in them.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” he alleged. “That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are currently feuding with each other (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Musk added in a follow-up tweet: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.” He did not provide any evidence for these claims, however.
Disgraced financier Epstein was awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges when he was found dead in his cell in August 2019. It’s believed Epstein took his own life.
Amid the ongoing feud between Musk and Trump, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has spoken out and branded Musk’s tirade against the President as an ‘unfortunate episode’.
Speaking to CNN, Leavitt said: “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted. The President is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
Leavitt has since spoken further on the matter on Fox News’ Hannity.
Karoline Leavitt addresses Trump and Musk fallout
Credits: Fox News
When asked about the tensions between the pair, she shared: “Just days ago, Elon thanked the president for his incredible leadership to cut waste and fraud in our government, which this one big beautiful bill does.”
She continued: “The only difference between Friday and today is Elon went back to his companies and as a businessman, he has a right to speak for his companies, but as president, President Trump has a responsibility to fight for this country.”
Leavitt went on to hail the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ as ‘the most historic piece of legislation that has moved through Capitol Hill in modern day history‘.
Elon Musk hits out at Bill Gates
“Not only does this bill provide the largest tax cut for middle class and working class families and extends the Trump tax cuts in 2017, it also delivers on President Trump’s key campaign promises that he went around the country and spoke to voters across the country about,” Leavitt added.Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Politics, Jeffrey Epstein, News, US News

Trump and Elon Musk set to speak after the billionaire launched scathing attack accusing president of being listed in Epstein files
Once close friends, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are now at loggerheads
Elon Musk and Donald Trump are reportedly set to meet amid their ongoing fallout.
Musk and Trump are thought to have been friends for some time and the SpaceX founder was part of his 2024 presidential campaign, and spoke at numerous rallies.
When Trump came back into office, he wasted no time in recruiting Musk to be part of his administration and hired him as the head of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk remained in the role up until very recently, and it’s since then that things have turned sour between him and the president.
It all stems from the billionaire’s criticism of Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’. Some key parts of the controversial bill includes no tax on Social Security, and no tax on overtime and tips.
The controversial legislation was passed by the House of Republicans at the end of May and is now on its way to the Senate.
Musk had since made his feelings about the bill very clear and branded it an ‘abomination’.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump are currently embroiled in a huge row (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Clapping back, Trump said he was ‘disappointed’ in the tech mogul and insisted that Musk knew the ins-and-outs of the bill before his departure from the administration.
And the very public fallout has since escalated even further. Taking to Twitter, Musk dropped a ‘really big bomb’ and alleged that the president in the Jeffrey Epstein files, which is the reason the documentation has not been made fully public. He did not provide any evidence for his claims.
The White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the accusation, calling it an ‘unfortunate episode from Elon’, adding (via Sky News): “This is an unfortunate episode from Elon, who is unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill [a Republican tax and spending bill] because it does not include the policies he wanted.
“The president is focused on passing this historic piece of legislation and making our country great again.”
As things grow increasingly more tense between the pair, it’s expected that Musk and Trump are set to meet with one another today (June 6).

Elon Musk made the accusation on his Twitter (X/Elon Musk)
Politico’s White House Bureau Chief Dasha Burns allegedly spoke with the president last night who divulged such information, says The Independent.
While he’s issues scathing attacks on Trump, it appears as if Musk might want to call a truce for the good of the country.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman tweeted: “I support @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk and they should make peace for the benefit of our great country.”
“We are much stronger together than apart,” he added.
Replying the post, Musk said: “You’re not wrong.”
In contrast to this, the Tesla CEO has continued his scathing posts about Trump. In one tweet he said: “The Trump tariffs will cause a recession in the second half of this year.”
In another tweet, someone suggested that Trump be impeached and replaced by JD Vance, to which Musk reposted and wrote ‘yes’.Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Davidoff Studios Photography
Topics: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Politics, US News

Updated 18:16 5 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 17:50 5 Jun 2025 GMT+1
Donald Trump issues savage response to Elon Musk saying he’s ‘very disappointed’ in him
Just days after Musk left the Trump administration, the president slammed him for his words on his ‘big beautiful bill’
President Donald Trump has taken a swipe at his former ‘first buddy’ Elon Musk, saying he is ‘disappointed in him’.
It has long been rumored that their relationship had become fractured, with the pair having been inseparable in the first few months of the Republican reclaiming the Oval Office back in January – but in terms of the billionaire’s exit from the Trump administration, it was expected.
That is because Musk had been working under a distinct role in the US government as a ‘special government employee’ – which allowed him to work for up to 130 days in the office each year.
However, his resignation came three days early, and only one day after he criticized Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office today (June 5), Trump said: “Look, you know, I’ve always liked Elon, and it’s always – very surprised. You saw the words he had for me, the words and he hasn’t said anything about me, that’s bad.
Trump ‘disappointed in Elon Musk
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“I’d rather have him criticize me than the bill, because the bill is incredible. Elon and I had a great relationship, I don’t know if it went well anymore.
“I was surprised because, you were here, everybody in this room practically was here as we had a wonderful send off. He said wonderful things about me couldn’t have nicer. Said the best thing.
“But I’m very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here.”
Musk has since responded to him on Twitter, penning: “False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”
It isn’t the first time Musk has been vocal on the bill.

Elon Musk has been vocal about Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ – in a manner that has disappointed the POTUS (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Speaking to CBS in a preview clip that aired on Tuesday (May 27), Musk said: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill frankly, which increases the budget deficit not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful… but I don’t know if it could be both, my personal opinion.”
The bill devised an increased in defense spending, including Trump’s ambition to implement a ‘Golden Dome’ above the US, which would protect it from enemy missiles, as well as multi-trillion dollar tax breaks.
However, as Musk mentioned, it undermined his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – with the new legislation could could increase government spending by around $600 billion in the next fiscal year.Featured Image Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Politics, Twitter, US News
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Updated 07:51 30 May 2025 GMT+1Published 07:31 30 May 2025 GMT+1
Donald Trump breaks silence on Elon Musk quitting DOGE after leaving him one final message
The POTUS has spoken out after his ‘first buddy’ handed in his resignation days before expected
President Donald Trump has broken his silence after Elon Musk stepped down from his role as head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
With his ‘first buddy’ stepping down from his post in politics, all eyes were cast on the POTUS for his thoughts on the departure – but it wasn’t until almost a day later until we heard from the 78-year-old.
It has long been rumored that their relationship had become fractured, with the pair having been inseparable in the first few months of the Republican reclaiming the Oval Office – but in terms of the billionaire’s exit from the Trump administration, it was expected.
That is because Musk had been working under a distinct role in the US government as a ‘special government employee’ – which allowed him to work for up to 130 days in the office each year.
However, his resignation came three days early, and only one day after he criticized Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’.

Elon Musk had been working under a distinct role as a ‘special government employee’ prior to his exit (Yuri Gripas for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Speaking to CBS in a preview clip that aired on Tuesday (May 27), Musk said: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill frankly, which increases the budget deficit not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful… but I don’t know if it could be both, my personal opinion.”
The bill devised an increased in defense spending, including Trump’s ambition to implement a ‘Golden Dome’ above the US, which would protect it from enemy missiles, as well as multi-trillion dollar tax breaks.
However, as Musk mentioned, it undermined his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – with the new legislation could could increase government spending by around $600 billion in the next fiscal year.

President Donald Trump is set to give Musk a fare well later today (May 30), from the Oval Office (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Regardless, of any friction between the couple, Trump looks set to give Musk a proper send off for his involvement in helping him reclaim the White House.
Taking to Truth Social, the president posted: “I am having a Press Conference tomorrow at 1:30 P.M. EST, with Elon Musk, at the Oval Office.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific! See you tomorrow at the White House.”
Yes, the pair are set to say fare well later today on May 30 – which is much better way for the world’s richest man to depart, with Trump only having posted a cryptic message hours after news broke that Musk was leaving politics.
Posting a meme to his account, it pictured Trump walking in the middle of a darkened street at night, captioned: “He’s on a mission from God & nothing can stop what is coming.”https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114593895018014960/embed
As for Musk himself, he announced his departure on his social media platform, Twitter – which he rebranded to X.
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he posted.
“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI
Topics: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Politics, US News

Updated 10:15 29 May 2025 GMT+1Published 07:27 29 May 2025 GMT+1
Elon Musk quits Doge and leaves Trump one final message after publicly criticizing bill
Just a day after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’, the billionaire has stepped down from his post
Elon Musk has announced he is stepping down from his post in politics after sharing his ‘disappointment’ in the Trump administration.
The world’s richest man was working under a distinct role in the US government as a ‘special government employee’ – which allows him to work for up to 130 days in the office each year, before his official exit on May 28.
So while his departure was expected, the Tesla owner has resigned three days earlier – and just a day after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’.
Speaking to CBS in a preview clip that aired on Tuesday (May 27), Musk said: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill frankly, which increases the budget deficit not just decrease it, and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful… but I don’t know if it could be both, my personal opinion.”
The BBC has reported that following his criticism, the White House was working to ‘offboard’ Musk yesterday and he’s now added further comment on his platform X.

Elon Musk publicly criticized the Trump administration shortly before he stepped down from his government role (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The billionaire posted: “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending.
“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.”
The POTUS has been tight lipped on the matter so far, but he did send a cryptic message on Truth Social.
Posting a meme to his account, it pictured Trump walking in the middle of a darkened street at night, captioned: “He’s on a mission from God & nothing can stop what is coming.”
Despite not being voted in by the public, Musk has been heading up the new government division alongside former Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
His mission was to streamline the US government through plans to axe thousands of jobs and drastically reduce the wage bill, and once he had finished his mission, he had vowed to disband the department – setting a completion date of no later than July 4, 2026… Independence Day next year.
As Trump put it, his primary objective is to ‘dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies’.
The initiative has already engaged in mass layoffs across the country, overseen the removal of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) programs, and it’s made sizeable cuts to the Department of Education.

Musk was referred to as President Donald Trump’s ‘first buddy’, with the pair having been inseparable in POTUS’ first few months in office (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
What is the ‘big, beautiful bill’?
The spending bill includes an increased in defense spending, including Trump’s ambition to implement a ‘Golden Dome’ above the US which would protect it from enemy missiles, as well as multi-trillion dollar tax breaks.
Having just squeezed through the House of Representatives, it will now go to the senate.
It is believed that the new legislation could could increase government spending by around $600 billion in the next fiscal year – which the SpaceX owner believes ‘undermines’ his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Jeff Bottari
Topics: Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Politics