President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have dismissed speculations about a potential rift in their friendship. Over the course of Trump’s 2024 campaign, the two became closer, leading to Musk’s appointment as a special government employee in the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Recently, President Trump addressed the rumors of their supposed falling out. During an upcoming interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, yet to be broadcasted, Hannity discussed how the media allegedly tried to undermine Trump’s re-election.
He mentioned the New York Times and The Washington Post, accusing them and other media outlets of attempting to sabotage Trump’s campaign.
Hannity noted, “Now I see they want you two to start – they want a divorce. They want you two to start hating each other,” adding a light-hearted comment about “President Elon Musk.”
Trump responded, acknowledging the media’s attempts to create division: “Oh I see it all the time.”
He explained that Musk had called him, observing the media’s efforts to create a wedge between them. Trump humorously addressed the “President Musk” remarks, causing Musk to laugh, and noted how obvious and ineffective the media’s attempts were.
Trump further claimed that no other president in history has faced more negative publicity.
He remarked, “I could do the greatest things – I get 98 percent bad publicity,” while praising Hannity and his team at Fox News, who are investigating media bias claims against other networks.
Trump emphasized that the public understands the situation, with Musk agreeing. This interview follows a Reuters report about tension between Musk’s DOGE and Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles.
Their relationship has seen its ups and downs, including past disagreements and exchanges of insults. In 2016, Musk criticized Trump as not being the right candidate for the presidency.
In 2017, Musk resigned from presidential advisory boards, criticizing Trump’s decision to exit the Paris Agreement on climate change. However, their friendship appeared to recover, with Trump praising Musk as one of the world’s “greatest geniuses” before subsequently calling him a “bulls*** artist” over Musk’s interest in buying Twitter.
Musk responded by saying, “I don’t hate the man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.”
Despite this, Musk reinstated Trump’s Twitter account and expressed support for some of Trump’s policies, including the US-Mexico border wall. By 2024, Musk was donating $45 million monthly to a pro-Trump Super PAC.
In August, Musk and Trump hinted that Musk could lead a new government efficiency group. By fall, Trump attended SpaceX’s starship launch in Texas. Reports suggest they spend a significant amount of time together, with Musk referring to himself as “First Buddy.”
The complete interview is scheduled to air on Tuesday.