Reports said persistent mediation by Vice President JD Vance was behind the easing of the public rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk. As Musk hinted at the possibility of launching a third party to pressure the Trump camp, Vice President Vance judged that a Republican split could be fatal to next year's midterm elections and intervened directly.
According to the Washington Post (WSJ) on the 29th (local time), the relationship between Musk and President Trump cooled rapidly as Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project under the banner of reducing government expense and publicly criticized President Trump on social media (SNS). Musk aggressively intervened in federal agencies' systems and personnel and pushed for dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), taking an unconventional course. The Trump side showed dismay at Musk's pace and methods, and the conflict escalated into an open clash, the WSJ assessed.
As the situation worsened, Vice President Vance contacted Musk directly while also persuading his close aides that if the third-party plan materialized, the entire Republican Party could suffer damage. Vice President Vance identified Musk's core interest as the confirmation of Jared Isaacman as head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), linked to SpaceX, and moved to secure support from senators. Inside the White House, there was also a consensus that a full-blown confrontation with Musk should be avoided.
These behind-the-scenes contacts proved effective. Musk effectively dropped the plan to launch a third party and later reappeared at White House events. In particular, when Trump and Musk appeared side by side and were seen chatting amicably at the funeral of Charlie Kirk, who holds significant influence in the conservative camp, it was interpreted as a signal that their relationship had been rapidly restored.
Still, some around them say this reconciliation is structurally unstable. Musk possesses both enormous financial resources and influence on SNS, but his political moves have been unpredictable, creating burdens for the Trump camp. Trump aides have been wary, seeing Musk's support as accompanied by a tendency to exert influence not only on political fundraising but also on policy direction and personnel.
Even so, Vice President Vance's presence stood out more in the process. Vice President Vance has communicated regularly with Musk, sharing a technology-centric worldview and online political grammar. There was also speculation that Musk views Vice President Vance as a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election. However, Vice President Vance is walking a fine line, recognizing that close ties with billionaires could burden his populist image.
Musk, too, appears to have learned a lesson. In a recent interview, he likened politics to a "bloody fight," signaling an intention to reduce direct political involvement. The DOGE project's central organization has been dismantled, and only some personnel have been dispersed across federal agencies.
Ultimately, some assess that the reconciliation was a choice aligned with the interests of both President Trump and Musk. The Trump camp needed to maintain Musk's support during the campaign phase, and Musk appears to have considered that a public break with the Republican Party could be burdensome.