'Everyone is stating I will destroy Elon's companies, but...': Trump plays down feud with Musk

US President Donald Trump has taken a soft stance on Elon Musk, saying that claims that he wants to wreck the billionaire’s company are not true. This follows a public spat between the duo, who once worked hand-in-hand when Musk was heading Doge.

“Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon’s companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large-scale subsidies he receives from the US Government. This is not so! I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!” Trump said on Truth Social.

Even after the war of words with Trump via social media posts, Musk has continued his attacks against the president by claiming that he had a relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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When Trump threatened to cut Musk’s govt subsidies

Last month, Trump said, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it."

The seeds of trouble between the duo were sown after Musk denounced Trump’s sweeping tax-cut and spending bill. The president initially held his tongue while Musk campaigned to torpedo the bill, saying it would add too much to the nation’s $36.2 trillion in debt.

After the altercation between Trump and Musk, the president said that his former protégé was “ upset because we took the EV mandate, which is a lot of money… I know that disturbed him…Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”

Is Trump attacking Musk’s companies?

Sweeping tax and budget legislation approved by Congress, and signed by Trump, will halt $7,500 tax credits for buying or leasing new electric vehicles on September 30, as well as a $4,000 used EV credit, which have helped juice green vehicle sales in recent years.

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A week after the spat in June, Reuters reported the White House had directed the Defense Department and NASA to gather details on billions of dollars in SpaceX contracts to ready possible retaliation against the businessman and his companies.