Trump Declares He Likes Tesla But Still Prefers Combustion Engines After Accepting Elon Musk’s Apology

In the world of American power, few stories have captured the public imagination as much as the ongoing dance—sometimes a duel, sometimes a waltz—between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Their relationship, a blend of rivalry, grudging respect, and political necessity, has always been unpredictable. But on June 12, 2025, during a White House event, the public witnessed a new chapter: an unexpected apology, a presidential olive branch, and a subtle reminder that in politics, as in business, yesterday’s enemies can be tomorrow’s allies.

The Feud Ignites

The spark for this latest drama was lit earlier in June, when Elon Musk, never shy about voicing his opinions, took to X (formerly Twitter) to blast President Trump’s newly passed tax bill. Calling it a “disgusting abomination,” Musk didn’t stop there—he even suggested Trump should face impeachment. The comments ricocheted through the business and political worlds, setting off a media firestorm and sending Tesla’s stock into a brief tailspin.

For Trump, who had long prided himself on his business acumen and his ability to court America’s top CEOs, Musk’s attack was more than just a policy disagreement—it was personal. He responded with characteristic bluntness, expressing “deep disappointment” in Musk and hinting that Tesla and SpaceX’s lucrative government contracts could be at risk. The message was clear: in Trump’s America, loyalty matters, and public criticism comes with a price.

Musk Doubles Down

If Trump expected Musk to back down, he was mistaken. Instead, Musk fired off a series of pointed social media posts, doubling down on his criticism and mocking Trump’s “old-fashioned” energy policies. He compared the administration’s rollback of environmental regulations to “betting on horse-drawn carriages in the age of rockets,” a not-so-veiled jab at Trump’s well-known fondness for combustion engines.

The feud quickly escalated from a policy spat to a personal grudge match, with both men using their massive platforms to rally supporters. For Musk, it was a chance to position himself as a visionary fighting for the future of clean energy. For Trump, it was an opportunity to reinforce his image as a champion of traditional American industries—and to remind Silicon Valley that the White House holds the purse strings.

Behind the Scenes: Business at Stake

While the public watched the fireworks, insiders in both camps grew increasingly uneasy. Tesla and SpaceX, despite their market dominance, still relied heavily on government contracts and subsidies. Billions of dollars—and the future of American leadership in electric vehicles and space exploration—hung in the balance.

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Musk’s advisors urged him to de-escalate. The risk was simply too great: with a single executive order, Trump could jeopardize years of progress. Investors grew nervous, and whispers of boardroom unrest began to circulate. Would Musk’s stubbornness cost his companies their most important customer?

The Apology

The turning point came quietly. After days of mounting pressure, Musk picked up the phone and called the White House. The conversation was tense but civil. Musk, ever the pragmatist beneath his bravado, recognized that the stakes had grown too high for personal pride. Hours later, he took to X and posted a rare public apology:
“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

The apology was brief, but its impact was immediate. The media pounced, investors breathed a sigh of relief, and Washington insiders began to speculate about what had been promised—or threatened—behind closed doors.

Trump’s Response: Magnanimity With a Side of Shade

At the June 12 White House event, Trump addressed the elephant in the room with his signature blend of showmanship and snark. Standing before a crowd of reporters and industry leaders, he acknowledged Tesla’s role in revolutionizing the auto industry—before quickly reminding everyone of his own preferences.

“A lot of people love the electric. They like Tesla. So do I. In all fairness, I like Tesla and I like others too, but I also like combustion engines,” Trump quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He went on to tout his administration’s decision to revoke California’s strict EV mandates, positioning himself as a defender of consumer choice and traditional energy sectors. But it was his comments about Musk that drew the most attention:
“Now I know why Elon doesn’t like me so much, which he does, actually, he does. And he never had a problem. You know, it’s very interesting… And Elon still endorsed me…”

The remarks were classic Trump—a mix of needling, magnanimity, and a subtle reminder of who holds the cards. By accepting Musk’s apology while reasserting his own agenda, Trump signaled that the feud was over—for now—but that the relationship would remain complicated.

The Political Calculus

For both men, the public reconciliation was more than just a personal matter; it was a political necessity. Trump, facing a contentious reelection campaign, needed to shore up support from the business community and counter accusations that his energy policies were out of step with the future. Musk, meanwhile, needed to protect his companies’ access to government contracts and subsidies.

But the détente was fragile. Trump’s rollback of clean energy mandates was a direct challenge to everything Musk had built Tesla to represent. And Musk’s apology, while necessary, was a rare concession from a man known for his defiance.

The Stakes for Tesla and SpaceX

Tesla’s meteoric rise had been fueled in part by generous government incentives for clean energy. SpaceX, too, owed much of its success to contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense. Both companies stood to lose billions if the White House turned against them.

Musk’s apology was, in many ways, a strategic move to ensure business continuity. By mending fences with Trump, he reassured investors and government officials alike that he was willing to put personal differences aside for the greater good. But the truce came with a cost: Musk would have to tread carefully, balancing his public persona as a maverick innovator with the realities of political power.

The Broader Impact

The Trump-Musk saga is about more than just two outsized personalities. It’s a microcosm of the broader battle over America’s technological and energy future. Trump’s embrace of combustion engines and rollback of environmental regulations appeals to traditional industries and voters wary of rapid change. Musk’s vision of a world powered by electric vehicles and renewable energy represents the cutting edge—but also the uncertainties of a rapidly shifting economy.

Their uneasy alliance reflects the tensions at the heart of American progress: the push and pull between innovation and tradition, disruption and stability, ego and compromise.

What Comes Next?

As the dust settles, both men face new challenges. For Trump, the question is whether he can maintain support from both the old guard and the new innovators. For Musk, the challenge is even greater: can he continue to push the boundaries of technology without alienating the political establishment that holds the keys to his companies’ futures?

Behind the scenes, negotiations continue. Tesla’s lobbyists work overtime to ensure that government incentives remain in place. SpaceX’s engineers push forward with new missions, their funding secure—for now. And Musk, chastened but undeterred, returns to his favorite battlefield: social media, where a single post can move markets and make headlines around the world.

The Legacy of a Feud

In the end, the Trump-Musk saga may be remembered less for its fireworks than for what it reveals about the intersection of power, business, and personality in modern America. Both men are, in their own ways, symbols of the country’s restless ambition—the drive to build, to disrupt, and to win.

Their relationship will likely remain volatile, shaped by shifting political winds and the ever-present demands of ego. But for now, at least, a fragile truce holds. The engines—combustion and electric alike—keep running, and the world watches, waiting for the next twist in a story that is far from over.

Because in America, as in the lives of its most famous sons, the only constant is change—and the only guarantee is that the next chapter will be just as unpredictable as the last.