The House speaker says that ‘it will all work out’ and suggested a ’redemption’ arc is playing out.
Congressional Republicans on Friday urged both Elon Musk and President Donald Trump to end their public feud that escalated sharply a day earlier, with some warning that the spat could torpedo the One Big Beautiful Bill that both Trump and the GOP want passed.
Both Musk and Trump traded barbs on social media on Thursday and Friday, coming after the president broke his silence on Musk’s near-constant criticism of the bill earlier this week. It came about a week after Musk departed the Trump administration after his 130-day period as a special government employee ended.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told CNN that he hopes the two reconcile because “I believe in redemption,” and he believes that “it will all work out.”
“We’ve been exchanging text messages, but you know I’m not going to get into the details of what we’re discussing. He’s a friend. Just trying to get everybody to yes,” he said, referring to Musk.
Other Republicans also hoped that the spat would end.
“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. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday night.
“I hope it doesn’t distract us from getting the job done that we need to,” Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) told reporters Friday. “I think that it will boil over and they’ll mend fences.”
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on social media that he likes “both of them” and asked: “Who else really wants @elonmusk and @realDonaldTrump to reconcile?” He later wrote, “Repost if you agree that the world is a better place with the Trump-Musk bromance fully intact.”
Meanwhile, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) told Politico that he doesn’t believe the bill will stall in the Senate and indicated he’s not worried about Musk’s comments.
“I’m not watching what Elon is posting. I’ve heard about it, but sorry, he’s not on my phone,” he said Thursday, adding that the bill will provide “the largest reduction in spending” and will prevent “the largest tax increase, in history.”
“The Senate will do their work. They’re going to send the bill back to us,” Emmer later told the outlet. “We are going to pass it and send it to the president’s desk. The time for talking is over.”
