In Need of Political Allies, Musk Reunites with Trump

_WHAT’S HAPPENING_

Elon Musk publicly apologized to President Donald Trump early Wednesday morning, stating he "went too far" in his social media attacks last week during their high-profile feud.

The apology follows days of escalating tensions between the former allies, which began when Musk criticized Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill and culminated in now-deleted posts where Musk ruthlessly insulted the president and congressional Republicans.

_THE FACTS_

• Musk posted on X early Wednesday: "I regret some of my posts about President [Trump] last week. They went too far."

• The feud began when Musk, who recently left his position with DOGE, criticized Trump's budget bill as a "disgusting abomination” and hurled a number of insults at the president.

• In his most inflammatory, and now deleted, post, Musk alleged that Trump appeared in Jeffrey Epstein's files.

• Behind-the-scenes repair efforts began with a private call between Musk, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Vice President JD Vance last Friday.

• Vance and Musk are reportedly close; Musk was among those who urged Trump to pick Vance as vice president.

• Trump and Musk spoke on the phone Monday night, where Musk reportedly apologized for his outburst.

• Trump told The New York Post: "I have no hard feelings ... I think he feels very badly."

• Elon Musk played an outsized role in re-electing Trump in 2024, with his America PAC spending around $277 million to bolster Trump and congressional Republicans.

• Federal and local governments committed at least $6.3 billion to Musk-affiliated companies in 2024.

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