A bitter public feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk erupted on Thursday, with the Tesla billionaire agreeing to calls for Trump's impeachment while Trump suggested ending Musk's government contracts.
Musk showed some signs of softening his tone, but Trump on Friday told ABC News Musk was a "man who has lost his mind" and that he was "not particularly" interested in talking to him right now.
The spat began in part because of Musk's criticism of Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping immigration and tax bill that would fund much of the president's domestic agenda.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he plans to speak directly with Elon Musk Thursday morning following the continued criticism of the “big, beautiful bill” during a Bloomberg TV interview.
“Look, Elon is a good friend. We texted late last night. We're going to talk this morning. I just want to make sure that he understands what I think everybody on Capitol Hill understands," he said."
Johnson said Musk "seems pretty dug in right now, and I can’t quite understand the motivation behind it."
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference at the Capitol, in Washington, June 4, 2025.
Will Oliver/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
"But I would tell you that what we're delivering in this bill is not only historic tax cuts, but historic savings as well. He seems to miss that,” Johnson added.
-ABC News' Lauren Peller
Jun 05, 2025, 9:13 AM EDT
Trump and Xi talk on phone amid trade war, Chinese state media says
Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump talked by phone Thursday amid a trade war between the two countries, according to Chinese state media.
President Donald Trump in Washington, May 21, 2025 and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, May 13, 2025.
AFP via Getty Images
Jun 05, 2025, 6:38 AM EDT
Trump to host German chancellor at White House Thursday
President Donald Trump is scheduled on Thursday to host Germany's newly elected chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in the Oval Office.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives for the cabinet meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
Markus Schreiber/AP
The pair in their first face-to-fact meeting are likely to discuss U.S. and European support for Ukraine's defense against Russia, along with trade issues, including the Trump administration's international tariffs.
"Our alliance with America was, is, and remains of paramount importance for the security, freedom, and prosperity in Europe," Merz said in a social media post in German. "The USA is an indispensable friend and partner of Germany."
Jun 04, 2025, 10:23 PM EDT
Trump blocks foreign students from entering US to attend Harvard
In the latest escalation of the White House’s fight with Harvard University, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Wednesday blocking foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend the school.
Trump invoked the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the entry of noncitizens from entering the U.S. to study at Harvard for at least six months, arguing the institution is "no longer a trustworthy steward" of international students.
The proclamation also directed the secretary of state to consider revoking the visas of foreign students already in the U.S. to study at Harvard.
A graduate's cap reads "Learn to Change the World" during Harvard's commencement ceremony, May 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Mass.
Libby O'neill/Getty Images
"I have determined that the entry of the class of foreign nationals described above is detrimental to the interests of the United States because, in my judgment, Harvard’s conduct has rendered it an unsuitable destination for foreign students and researchers," the proclamation said.
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security tried to revoke Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program last month -- which allows the school to sponsor foreign students – a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking the move.
Trump justified the sudden move Wednesday by claiming Harvard has refused to provide information about international students, has "extensive entanglements with foreign countries," and has discriminated in their admissions practices. The proclamation also noted that crime rates have "drastically risen" at the school and requires the government to probe the potential misconduct of foreign students.
"These concerns have compelled the Federal Government to conclude that Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs," the proclamation said.
