The Washington Post reported that President Donald Trump advised his Vice President, J.D. Vance, to refrain from criticizing entrepreneur Elon Musk in order to allow him room for a comeback.
The newspaper added in a report: "Trump did not want Vance's sharp response to escalate the situation—a strategy that left room for rebuilding bridges."
A source quoted by the outlet said that Trump told Vance to "be diplomatic in his public behavior" and to be more cautious in his statements about Musk on social media.
Bloomberg reports that Musk supported Trump and Vance in the 2024 elections and then headed a new agency to improve government efficiency. However, his program to cut spending, as the US administration acknowledges, has not yet achieved the expected results.
The dispute between Trump and Musk erupted this week after Musk criticized a tax and spending-cutting bill supported by the White House. The debate quickly devolved into personal attacks on social media and sparked reactions in American political and business circles.
According to a Bloomberg source familiar with the situation, the US president personally urged Vance to take a cautious stance toward Musk before recording the podcast. For his part, Vance himself emphasized that he does not consider the rift between Trump and Musk irreversible.
