President Donald Trump on Friday told a reporter that Elon Musk "has lost his mind" and added he was "not particularly" interested in talking to the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
ABC News' chief Washington correspondent, Jonathan Karl, took to X following an early morning phone call with the president.
"In a phone conversation this morning, @realDonaldTrump told me @elonmusk is 'the man who has lost his mind.' Trump did not, however, seem angry or even concerned about the feud," Karl posted on X.
"As for reports that there is going to be a Trump/Musk call scheduled for today, Trump told me he is 'not particularly' interested in talking to Musk although he says Musk wants to talk to him."
In a story later posted on ABC News.com, Karl wrote that people close to Trump described the president as more sad than angry at Musk.
One Trump adviser said the president, on Thursday night, seemed "bummed" about the situation. Karl wrote he had the same take during the Friday morning phone call.
ABC News also reported that Trump was considering either giving away or selling the red Tesla he purchased in March to support Musk.
Karl's post came amid multiple media reports that there has been some signs of a détente between Trump and Musk.
The relationship between Trump and Musk, who until recently headed the president's Department of Government Efficiency, deteriorated quickly Thursday after Musk spoke out against the "one, big, beautiful bill" that passed the House and now is being worked on in the Senate.
Trump lashed out against Musk, saying he was "disappointed" by the billionaire's public opposition to the sweeping tax-cut and spending bill that is at the heart of the president's agenda.
Trump also asserted that Musk's days of blistering attacks on the bill were motivated by the proposed elimination of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles. Musk, whose Tesla manufactures EVs, has said he opposes the bill because it will increase federal deficits.
Trump further suggested he may terminate U.S. government contracts and subsidies given to Musk's companies.
Without providing evidence, Musk alleged the Department of Justice has not released the Jeffrey Epstein files because Trump is named in them.
Reuters contributed to this story.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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