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The White House dismissed speculation Friday that President Donald Trump would attempt to reconcile with Elon Musk via phone, as their public dispute intensified with fresh insults from the president toward his former billionaire ally.
"The president does not intend to speak to Musk today," a senior White House official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on condition of anonymity, scotching reports that the feuding pair planned to speak Friday.
Trump escalated his criticism of the South African-born tech mogul, telling ABC News in a phone call that he was "not particularly interested" in talking to Musk, whom he described as "the man who has lost his mind."
The president's latest remarks came a day after their political alliance spectacularly collapsed when Trump said he was "very disappointed" by Musk and threatened to end his government contracts.
The break followed Musk's criticism of Trump's flagship budget bill, which the Tesla CEO called an "abomination."
Trump, who once praised Musk as a "genius," branded him "crazy" on social media Thursday, marking a dramatic reversal from their previously close relationship.
The dispute has raised questions about the future of Musk's government contracts and could have significant political and economic implications.
Tesla shares have fluctuated amid the uncertainty, while Musk has vowed to end a critical U.S. spaceship program.
The White House convened a special meeting Thursday to address the crisis, according to a government source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In a symbolic gesture of their deteriorating relationship, Trump is considering selling or giving away a red Tesla he purchased to show support for Musk during protests against the company.
"He's thinking about it, yes," the senior White House official said when asked about the vehicle's fate. The Tesla remained parked on White House grounds Friday.
The car had featured prominently in their relationship's peak moment in March, when Trump and Musk posed together inside the vehicle during an unusual White House event where the president transformed the grounds into a pop-up Tesla showroom.
The display was arranged after protests against Musk's government role had negatively affected Tesla's stock price.
The feud erupted publicly when Trump delivered a televised Oval Office statement Thursday expressing his disappointment after his former top donor criticized his "big, beautiful" spending bill before Congress.
The exchange then moved to social media, where both men traded insults, with Musk posting unsubstantiated claims linking Trump to documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
While speculation had long existed that the relationship between two prominent figures with substantial egos might not endure, the rapid deterioration of their alliance has surprised Washington observers.
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