Elon Musk’s father has weighed in on the escalating feud between his son and U.S. President Donald Trump, attributing the dispute to prolonged stress and urging both sides to bring the clash to an end.
Speaking to Reuters at a conservative conference in Moscow, Errol Musk said that the public spat—sparked by social media insults and criticism of Trump’s major tax and spending bill—stemmed from months of mounting pressure.
“It’s been five months of intense stress,” Errol Musk noted. “With all other rivals out of the way, it seems the last two standing are now turning on each other. That needs to stop.”
The dispute became public after Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, labeled Trump’s economic legislation a “disgusting abomination.” In response, Trump announced that his relationship with Musk was over and warned of “serious consequences” should Musk support Democratic candidates running against pro-bill Republicans.
Asked whether Elon made a misstep by engaging publicly, Errol Musk responded: “In the heat of the moment, people don’t always think clearly.” Still, he expressed optimism, saying, “It will end on a good note—very soon.”
Neither Musk nor the White House has commented on the situation.
Despite the tension, Errol Musk affirmed his support for his son but acknowledged the complexities of public life. “Elon is standing by his principles,” he said. “But in the real world, you sometimes have to compromise.”
During his appearance, Errol Musk also spoke alongside Russian businessman Konstantin Malofeyev—under Western sanctions—and praised President Vladimir Putin as “very stable and pleasant.” He criticized Western media for spreading what he called “complete nonsense” and unjustly portraying Russia as an enemy.
