Why did Donald Trump make U-turn on Elon Musk? US president wants Tesla CEO to 'THRIVE' like never before

Elon Musk speaks during a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House | AP

US President Donald Trump on Thursday took a U-turn on his stance on Elon Musk, dismissing claims that he wants to destroy the billionaire's companies and asserted that he wants the former DOGE chief to 'THRIVE'.

This comes a day after the White House hinted that Trump does not want Musk's xAI to get government contracts.

Why is Trump making U-turn on Musk?

Reports suggest that Trump's fresh reversal on his stance comes as a bid to tone down the tensions with the Tesla chief. The US president also pointed out that if Musk's companies do well, it would be good for the country too.

Addressing rumours about Trump planning to revoke government support for Musk's companies, the President posted on Truth Social, "Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon’s companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the U.S. Government. This is not so!"

"I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!" said Trump, adding that if these companies do well, it will benefit the country as a whole. "And that’s good for all of us. We are setting records every day, and I want to keep it that way!"

Musk's Tesla is struggling with declining electric vehicle sales while its autonomous driving business is yet to hit the road.

Musk had previously slammed Trump's One Big Beautiful Act over rising national debt ceiling, claiming that claimed that "everyone seems to be whistling past the graveyard" despite the US heading to bankruptcy. He even went on to call it the "Debt Slavery Bill", which he claimed would undermine his work at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by raising spending.

However, the White House then hit back at the Tesla boss, alleging that he is worried about the clause in the Act that would end EV subsidies.

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