President Donald Trump said that tech tycoon and once-close ally Elon Musk doesn’t have a choice but to align with Republicans against the political Left.
Trump made the prediction on “The Scott Jennings Show” in an interview aired on Wednesday. The president said that Musk made a mistake in attacking the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” but that he would be welcomed back when he “works out” some problems.
“I don’t think he has a choice. So, what’s he gonna do? He’s going to go with the radical Left lunatics? You know, they’re lunatics. I don’t think he has a choice,” said Trump.
“He’s a man of common sense. He’s a good man. He got off the reservation incorrectly, and that’s okay because, you know, it’s just one of those things. But he’s a good person,” the president continued. “He’s got, you know, 80% super genius, and then 20% he’s got some problems. And when he works out the 20%, he’ll be great.”
Trump said that Musk regrets his split from the White House and the center of the Republican Party.
“He’s got some difficulty, but I liked him. I always liked him. I like him now, but he went off the reservation, and he wished he didn’t do it,” said Trump.
President @realDonaldTrump reveals where things stand personally with @elonmusk…
These are two brilliant men and great Americans. I, like millions of others, really would love to see them get the band back together soon ???? pic.twitter.com/pywib1gJo0
— Scott Jennings (@ScottJenningsKY) September 3, 2025
Musk broke with Trump over the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” criticizing the president’s landmark piece of legislation as a bloated bill with far too much spending. The tech tycoon then pledged to launch his own political party, the America Party.
“By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!” Musk said on X in July, referring to a poll he ran on his social media platform.
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” he continued. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
Musk has reportedly put his plans for a new party on hold. The billionaire is hesitant to move forward with a new political party due to the rifts it would create between him and top figures in the GOP. One of those figures is Vice President JD Vance, whom Musk is reportedly considering backing in 2028.
Last month, Vance offered similar comments to Trump about Musk, stating that Musk was instrumental in the president’s 2024 election victory.
“He did help us a lot in the election. And the president even says, with all his frustration, Elon was a very, very critical part of the team last election, and so my hope is by the midterms things are kind of back to normal,” Vance said.