Vice President JD Vance has weighed in on the explosive online feud between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, calling Musk’s attacks a “huge mistake.” However, Vance attempted to minimize the severity of the situation, characterizing Musk as an “emotional guy” who simply got frustrated. The public spat erupted after Musk launched a series of scathing social media posts criticizing Trump’s spending package and subsequently targeting the president with more direct attacks. This prompted a furious response from Trump, who labeled Musk “CRAZY” and threatened to cut government contracts held by Musk’s companies. The conflict escalated further with Trump ally Steve Bannon calling for a federal investigation into Musk’s immigration status and alleged drug use.
In an interview with comedian Theo Von, Vance expressed hope that Musk would “eventually come back into the fold,” but acknowledged that it might not be possible given the intensity of the situation. Vance, who recorded the interview while Musk’s posts were still unfolding, admitted to having “flown off the handle way worse” in the past. He suggested that the president was “getting a little frustrated” with Musk’s criticism but had shown restraint due to not wanting a “blood feud.” Vance believes that if Musk simply “chilled out,” the situation could be resolved.
This public rift comes as a surprise, considering that just weeks ago, Trump and Musk were close allies, with Musk serving as a special advisor to the president and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Vance defended both Musk, calling him an “incredible entrepreneur,” and DOGE, stating that it was “really good” despite its controversial cost-cutting measures and significant layoffs. He further defended Trump against Musk’s unsubstantiated claims about concealed information related to Jeffrey Epstein, stating unequivocally that “Donald Trump didn’t do anything wrong with Jeffrey Epstein.” While Trump’s name has appeared in Epstein-related court documents, this does not constitute evidence of wrongdoing. Musk subsequently deleted his posts about Epstein.
Musk’s calls for Trump’s impeachment and the formation of a new political party were also criticized by Vance as “just not helpful.” Vance defended the controversial bill that sparked Musk’s ire, emphasizing its aim to extend 2017 tax cuts rather than solely cut spending. He dismissed the concerns of House Republicans who voted for the bill but later expressed objections, stating that the bill’s text had been available for weeks and that claims of not having time to read it were “ridiculous.” The situation remains tense, highlighting the unpredictable dynamics within the current political landscape.
