Speaker Mike Johnson urges Trump and Musk to reconcile after public dispute over GOP budget bill.

Republican Leadership Responds to Musk Criticism

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed hope Friday that President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk could move past their escalating public feud over the Republican Party’s budget reconciliation bill, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill.

“I believe in redemption,” Johnson said at a press conference. “That’s part of my worldview, and I think it’s good for the party and the country if all that’s worked out.”

Johnson said he was with President Trump in the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon when Musk’s remarks were gaining attention. “As he said in his own words, he was just, he was disappointed, and I was surprised by Elon’s sudden opposition,” Johnson recounted.

Without naming Musk directly, Johnson emphasized the importance of party unity and stood firmly behind the president. “Do not doubt and do not second guess and don’t ever challenge the President of the United States, Donald Trump,” he said. “He is the leader of the party, he’s the most consequential political figure of this generation, in probably the modern era, and he’s doing an excellent job for the people.”

GOP Moves Ahead Despite Tensions

When asked whether he had spoken with Musk following the tech mogul’s criticisms, Johnson acknowledged that they had exchanged texts but declined to disclose details.

He downplayed the impact of Musk’s comments on GOP morale, stating, “Members are not shaken at all. We are going to pass this legislation on our deadline, and we’re very bullish about it.”

The legislation in question is the GOP’s budget reconciliation bill, which seeks to advance President Trump’s key priorities: tax reform, immigration enforcement, American energy expansion, defense funding, and raising the federal debt ceiling.

Musk had accused Republican leaders of failing to aggressively reduce federal spending, singling out Trump, Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune by name. His criticism included suggestions of launching a third political party, a notion Trump publicly dismissed during an interview.

“Elon’s totally lost it,” Trump said when asked about Musk’s remarks. He also confirmed he was not interested in speaking with the Tesla CEO.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Johnson’s call for unity by reaffirming the administration’s focus: “President Trump is focused on making our country great again and passing the One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Despite the dispute, Republican leaders are proceeding with confidence. The episode has further highlighted the divisions between traditional conservative priorities and high-profile tech executives pushing for deeper fiscal cuts. For now, GOP lawmakers are determined to stay the course on their legislative agenda, with Speaker Johnson backing both Trump’s leadership and the party’s unity through the upcoming vote.