President Donald Trump says he is open to reconciling with Elon Musk following their recent public spat over Trump’s newly passed spending bill. “Look, I have no hard feelings,” Trump said during an interview on the first episode of “Pod Force One with Miranda Devine,” released Wednesday. “I was really surprised that that happened. He went after a bill that’s phenomenal. I think he actually feels very badly that he said that.”
Musk — the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla — had served as head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he was tasked with trimming $2 trillion from federal spending. But Musk abruptly resigned in a post on X on May 28.
The relationship between Trump and Musk began to deteriorate after Musk condemned the president’s congressional spending bill in a June 3 post:
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it — you know you did wrong. You know it.”
The criticism prompted a fierce back-and-forth on social media, with Musk even invoking Trump’s name in connection with the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Meanwhile, the Congressional Budget Office has projected that Trump’s bill would add trillions of dollars to the nation’s already $36.2 trillion national debt.
The bill — which seeks to extend Trump’s landmark 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while providing increased funding for border security and national defense — cleared the House on May 22 and is now before the Senate.
Trump ‘Disappointed,’ But Willing to Move On
Speaking with Devine, Trump acknowledged being “disappointed” by Musk’s comments but said such conflicts are not uncommon.
When asked whether he could see himself repairing the relationship with Musk, Trump replied:
“I guess I could, but we have to straighten out the country. My sole function now is getting this country back to a level higher than it’s ever been. And I think we can do that.”
New Podcast Series Debuts With Trump Interview
The interview was featured in the launch of Miranda Devine’s new podcast, “Pod Force One,” which promises exclusive, behind-the-scenes conversations with major players in Washington and beyond.
“On Pod Force One, I’ll be speaking to the most powerful people in the world, finding out what really drives them — their motivations, beliefs, and desires,” Devine said.
New York Post Editor-in-Chief Keith Poole praised Devine’s debut effort, calling her “a legend” and promising that the show will consistently break major news.
In recent days, Musk appears to have walked back his harshest remarks. On Wednesday, he posted:
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”
Trump, speaking later to the New York Post, welcomed Musk’s more conciliatory tone:
“Very nice,” Trump said of the apology.
“I haven’t thought too much about him in the last little while,” the president told Devine. “But the bill is so good. This bill is going to turn around this country so fast your head will spin, and it’s good for everyone.”
Devine on Trump: ‘Generous and Candid’
Devine told Fox News Digital that having President Trump as her first guest set the tone for the series:
“He was generous with his time and full of fascinating insights about what makes him tick,” she said. “We talked about everything from Elon to Iran, drones over New Jersey, and even the secret of Joe Biden’s autopen. He also shared his tips for success in life and good parenting.”
“Pod Force One” is now available on NYPost.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.