Key Points
- US President Donald Trump made headlines with a provocative comment about Elon Musk, claiming that tech elites who once “hated” him are now “kissing his a**.”
- Trump’s remarks came during a speech at the University of Alabama on May 1, 2025, where he both praised and mocked Musk.
- Elon Musk, whose term as Special Government Advisor at DOGE ends May 30, has had a turbulent public relationship with Trump, with both men exchanging jabs in recent years.
- Musk previously criticized Trump’s age and suitability for another presidential term, while Trump has accused Musk of seeking favors for his business ventures.
- The exchange highlights ongoing tensions and shifting alliances between political leaders and Silicon Valley’s most influential figures.
Washington D.C.: US President Donald Trump stirred controversy yet again with a blunt remark about Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, suggesting that Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures have shifted from hostility to flattery during his time in office. Speaking at the University of Alabama on May 1, 2025, Trump addressed a packed audience and didn’t hold back.
“Elon is so terrific. They all hated me in my first term, and now they are kissing my a**. You know…it’s true. All of them. It’s true,” Trump declared, drawing laughter and applause.
Trump-Musk Relationship: From Public Spats to Political Pragmatism
Trump’s comments come at a pivotal moment: Elon Musk is set to step down as Special Government Advisor at DOGE on May 30, though he has promised to continue supporting the administration in a part-time capacity. The relationship between Trump and Musk has been anything but smooth. The two have traded barbs in public, with Musk in 2022 suggesting Trump was “too old” for another presidential run and should “sail into the sunset.”
Musk’s 2022 tweet read:
“I don’t hate the man, but it’s time for Trump to hang up his hat & sail into the sunset. Dems should also call off the attack – don’t make it so that Trump’s only way to survive is to regain the Presidency.”
Trump, never one to let criticism go unanswered, fired back on his social media platform Truth Social:
“When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects… I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it.”
Silicon Valley and the White House: A Relationship in Flux
Trump’s latest jabs reflect a broader shift in the relationship between the tech industry and the White House. While many Silicon Valley leaders were openly critical of Trump during his first term, recent policy shifts and business interests have led to more pragmatic-if sometimes uneasy-engagements.
Musk’s departure from his official government advisory role marks the end of a controversial chapter, but both he and Trump have signaled that their interactions will continue, albeit in new forms.
President Trump’s candid remarks about Elon Musk and Silicon Valley’s evolving stance toward his administration spotlight the complex, often combative relationship between political power and tech titans. As Musk steps down from his government advisory role, all eyes remain on how these two influential figures will shape the future of technology and policy in America.
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