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After his public feud with Elon Musk erupted, President Donald Trump reportedly spent Thursday working the phones in a behind-the-scenes effort to defend himself and discredit the tech billionaire, according to The Washington Post.
The clash escalated dramatically when Musk called for Trump’s impeachment and accused him of being linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s notorious files. In response, Trump launched into a private smear campaign, using a series of phone calls to paint Musk in a damaging light to both allies and acquaintances.
The Post reports that during one of these calls, Trump referred to his former ally as “a big-time drug addict,” according to a person familiar with the conversation. The comment was part of Trump’s attempt to rationalize Musk’s recent behavior and turn the tide of opinion back in his favor.
While Trump has remained relatively restrained on his Truth Social account at least compared to his usual style—his administration appears to be strategizing behind the scenes. The Post notes that Trump has even advised Vice President JD Vance to tread carefully in public remarks about Musk, indicating the sensitivity and volatility of the situation.
“Behind closed doors, however, retaliation against Musk has been the topic of conversations among administration officials,” the report reveals. While Trump has not launched a full-scale public attack on Musk yet, that could soon change depending on how the feud unfolds.
The rift marks a significant shift in their relationship. Once seen as an influential figure with Trump’s ear, Musk has now become a political adversary after openly criticizing the president and aligning with efforts to undermine his leadership.
Despite the growing tension, not all hope for reconciliation is lost. One unnamed ally of both men told the Post, “There’s hope that there’s going to be a reconciliation,” before adding, “But it’ll never be the same.”
For now, Trump appears to be calculating his next move carefully. Whether he continues to restrain his public messaging or unleashes a full-blown response remains to be seen but the battle between the former president and the billionaire entrepreneur is already drawing major attention across political and media circles.
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