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As the Republican Party anticipates potential fallout from Donald Trump’s public dispute with Elon Musk, prominent lawmakers and conservative voices are calling for reconciliation, wary of the repercussions of a sustained conflict.
The animosity between the two figures could pose challenges for the Republican agenda, particularly concerning tax and border spending legislation championed by Trump but criticised by Musk.
Representative Dan Newhouse, a Republican from Washington, expressed hope that the disagreement would not impede progress on critical tasks.
Speaking on the matter, Newhouse said: “I hope it doesn’t distract us from getting the job done that we need to. I think that it will boil over and they’ll mend fences.”
As of Friday afternoon, Musk had refrained from further engagement, focusing instead on promoting his various companies on social media.
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Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, voiced optimism for a resolution, telling Fox News that, “I hope that both of them come back together because when the two of them are working together, we’ll get a lot more done for America than when they’re at cross purposes”.
Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, sounded almost pained on social media as Trump and Musk volleyed insults at each other, sharing a photo composite of the two men and writing, “But … I really like both of them.”
“Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?” Lee posted, later adding: “Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.”
So far, the feud between Trump and Musk is probably best described as a moving target, with plenty of opportunities for escalation or detente.
One person familiar with the president’s thinking said Musk wants to speak with Trump, but that the president doesn’t want to do it – or at least do it on Friday. The person requested anonymity to disclose private matters.
In a series of conversations with television anchors Friday morning, Trump showed no interest in burying the hatchet. Asked on ABC News about reports of a potential call between him and Musk, the president responded: “You mean the man who has lost his mind?”
Trump added in the ABC interview that he was “not particularly” interested in talking to Musk at the moment.
Still, others remained hopeful that it all would blow over.
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“I grew up playing hockey and there wasn’t a single day that we played hockey or basketball or football or baseball, whatever we were playing, where we didn’t fight. And then we’d fight, then we’d become friends again,” Hannity said on his show Thursday night.
Acknowledging that it “got personal very quick,” Hannity nonetheless added that the rift was “just a major policy difference.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson projected confidence that the dispute would not affect prospects for the tax and border bill.
“Members are not shaken at all,” the Louisiana Republican said. “We’re going to pass this legislation on our deadline.”
He added that he hopes Musk and Trump reconcile, saying “I believe in redemption” and “it’s good for the party and the country if all that’s worked out.”
But he also had something of a warning for the billionaire entrepreneur.
“I’ll tell you what, do not doubt and do not second-guess and don’t ever challenge the president of the United States, Donald Trump,” Johnson said. “He is the leader of the party. He’s the most consequential political figure of this generation and probably the modern era.”
