Mike Johnson Urges Trump and Elon Musk to Reconcile Amid Ongoing Feud

Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism on Friday that President Donald Trump and tech magnate Elon Musk would be able to reconcile after their highly publicized rift over the Republicans' so-called "one big, beautiful bill." Speaking to reporters, Johnson recounted his time with President Trump in the Oval Office as the dispute emerged, saying, "He was disappointed, and I was surprised by Elon's sudden opposition."

Johnson highlighted his belief in redemption—"That's part of my worldview," he remarked—and suggested that a resolution between Musk and Trump would be beneficial not just for the Republican Party, but for the country as a whole. While he stopped short of directly addressing Musk, Johnson issued a clear message: "Do not doubt and do not second guess and don't ever challenge the President of the United States, Donald Trump. He is the leader of the party, he’s the most consequential political figure of this generation, in probably the modern era, and he's doing an excellent job for the people," the Speaker declared emphatically.

When asked if he had spoken to Musk following the billionaire's tirade, Johnson revealed that they had "exchanged texts," though he declined to discuss their content. Addressing concerns that Musk’s criticism could split the GOP, Johnson firmly assured, "Members are not shaken at all. We are going to pass this legislation on our deadline, and we're very bullish about it."

Meanwhile, the White House echoed a message of focus and unity, stating that President Trump was concentrating on his legislative agenda and the passage of the budget bill. Trump himself responded to questions about Musk’s threat to form a third political party dismissively, stating, "Elon's totally lost it," and noting he had no interest in further communication with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.

Musk has been openly critical of the Republican leadership in recent days, accusing them of insufficient efforts to curb federal spending in their proposed budget. He specifically called out Trump, Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, intensifying the spotlight on internal GOP disagreements just as party leaders strive to rally support for the sweeping bill addressing tax cuts, immigration, energy policy, defense, and the debt limit.

Despite the high-profile back-and-forth, most House Republicans appear to be standing firmly behind Trump and their legislative priorities. With tensions flaring and eyes on the approaching vote, party leaders remain adamant: their agenda is on track, and Republican unity will hold strong—even as outside voices like Musk present new challenges.