Musk signals reconciliation with Trump after feud over tax bill and LA riots, sparking bipartisan reaction.

Musk’s Shift From Critic to Supporter Amid LA Crisis

Elon Musk appears to be softening his stance toward President Donald Trump after a highly publicized feud last week. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who had clashed with Trump over the administration’s sweeping tax and spending package, shared multiple posts over the weekend signaling alignment with the president’s response to the riots in Los Angeles.

The reversal came after Musk reposted a Truth Social message from Trump on Sunday condemning local leadership for the unrest. “These are not protesters, they are troublemakers and insurrectionists,” Trump declared, calling out California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Musk also shared a post from Vice President JD Vance calling for “decisive leadership” and affirming Trump’s resolve to restore order.

“Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,” Trump added in the same post. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi have been directed to take all necessary measures to quell the violence and what Trump described as a “Migrant Invasion.”

Musk’s renewed support follows days of personal and policy clashes with Trump. The two publicly traded insults after Musk criticized the “big, beautiful bill” for eliminating electric vehicle tax credits, which directly impacted Tesla. Musk labeled the bill a “disgusting abomination,” while Trump accused Musk of going “CRAZY” and acting out of self-interest.

Signs of Reconciliation and Political Calculation

Despite the earlier acrimony, Musk responded to a video on X of Trump expressing well wishes by posting a heart emoji—widely interpreted as a gesture of reconciliation. Trump had said, “We had a great relationship and I wish him well—very well, actually.”

Still, tensions were evident last week when Musk suggested on social media that Trump should be impeached and replaced by Vice President Vance, and even made controversial references to the late Jeffrey Epstein. While Musk deleted that post, it left political observers speculating about his long-term intentions.

Some Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna of California, have taken notice of Musk’s unpredictable positioning. Khanna expressed hope that Musk might support Democrats in the 2026 midterms, citing shared values on science, technology, and international education. “I look forward to Elon turning his fire against MAGA Republicans instead of Democrats in 2026,” Khanna said.

Others in the Democratic Party remain skeptical. Senator Bernie Sanders dismissed the idea of engaging with Musk, labeling him a “right-wing extremist.”

Meanwhile, the White House has moved forward with the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to escalating violence following immigration enforcement raids. At least 300 troops had arrived by Sunday. Trump bypassed California's command structure by invoking federal authority, a move Governor Newsom called “a serious breach of state sovereignty.”

“We didn’t have a problem until Trump got involved,” Newsom posted on X, demanding the administration withdraw its troops and return authority to the state. Critics argue that Trump’s intervention is exacerbating tensions, while the administration insists the deployment is necessary to restore public order.

As the political fallout continues, Musk’s evolving relationship with Trump—and his potential influence on the 2026 midterms—remains a point of interest for both parties.