Call with China's Xi, and Trump, Musk exchange fueled barbs during 20th week in office

President Donald Trump and SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk engaged successful a nationalist feud Thursday (—) little than a week aft the White House held a farewell property league for Musk highlighting his contributions spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk departed his tenure arsenic a peculiar authorities worker with DOGE May 30, but swiftly launched into criticisms of Trump’s monolithic taxation and spending bundle dubbed the "big, beautiful, bill." Tuesday, Musk labeled the measurement a "disgusting abomination" due to the fact that of reports it ramps up the national deficit.

On Thursday, Trump told reporters successful the Oval Office that Musk opposed the measure due to the fact that it eliminates an electrical conveyance taxation recognition that benefits companies similar Tesla. But Trump said that proviso has ever been portion of the measure. 

"I'm precise disappointed, due to the fact that Elon knew the interior workings of this measure amended than astir anybody sitting here, amended than you people," Trump said successful the Oval Office successful a gathering with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "He knew everything astir it. He had nary occupation with it. All of a abrupt helium had a problem, and helium lone developed the occupation erstwhile helium recovered retired that we're going to person to chopped the EV mandate, due to the fact that that's billions and billions of dollars, and it truly is unfair."

TRUMP NOT INTERESTED IN TALKING TO MUSK: ‘ELON’S TOTALLY LOST IT'

Elon Musk receives a aureate cardinal from President Donald Trump successful the Oval Office astatine the White House successful Washington, May 30, 2025.  (Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Musk instantly responded connected X to Trump's statements, urging a removal of the "disgusting pork" included successful the measure. He besides said it was "false" that helium was shown the measurement "even once."

The 2 continued to publically spar against 1 another, with Musk asserting that Trump wouldn’t person won the 2024 predetermination if it weren’t for his ain backing. Meanwhile, Trump accused Musk of going "CRAZY" implicit cuts to the EV credits, and said that Musk was "wearing thin." 

Additionally, Trump told Fox News connected Friday that "Elon's wholly mislaid it" and was not funny successful speaking implicit the telephone with Musk, contempt media reports suggesting the 2 would talk. 

Here’s what besides happened this week: 

Visit with the chancellor of Germany

Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz met with Trump astatine the White House Thursday, wherever the 2 discussed the warfare successful Ukraine. 

While Merz asserted that the U.S. was successful a almighty spot to bring a meaningful extremity to the struggle betwixt Ukraine and Russia, Trump offered that the satellite mightiness request to "let them combat for a small while."

"America is again successful a precise beardown presumption to bash thing connected this warfare and ending this war," Merz said. 

MERZ SAYS US IN A ‘STRONG POSITION’ TO STOP PUTIN

President Donald Trump greets German Chancellor Friedrich Merz upon accomplishment astatine the West Wing of the White House successful Washington, June 5, 2025. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Merz said that Germany was consenting to assistance nevertheless it could, and wanted to sermon options to spouse with the U.S. to bring peace. Likewise, Merz suggested that European allies exert further unit connected Russia to extremity the conflict. 

But Trump said that helium told Putin successful a caller telephone that possibly some countries would request to consciousness the consequences of warring much acutely, claiming helium told Putin "maybe you're going to person to support warring and suffering a lot."

"Sometimes you spot 2 young children warring similar brainsick – they hatred each other, and they're warring successful a park, and you effort and propulsion them apart, they don't privation to beryllium pulled," Trump said.  "Sometimes you're amended disconnected letting them combat for a portion and past pulling them apart."

Call with Xi

Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday to sermon commercialized negotiations betwixt Washington and Beijing. 

"I conscionable concluded a precise bully telephone telephone with President Xi, of China, discussing immoderate of the intricacies of our precocious made, and agreed to, Trade Deal," Trump said Thursday successful a Truth Social post. "The telephone lasted astir 1 and a fractional hours, and resulted successful a precise affirmative decision for some Countries."

Trump said the speech focused "almost entirely" connected trade, and that Xi invited the U.S. president and archetypal woman Melania Trump to sojourn China. Likewise, Trump reciprocated and invited Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to sojourn the U.S. 

TRUMP TOUTS ‘VERY POSITIVE’ BREAKTHROUGH WITH XI AFTER SLAMMING CHINA FOR TRADE VIOLATION

President Donald Trump and Chinese person Xi Jinping

The telephone comes astir a week aft Trump condemned China May 30 for violating an archetypal commercialized statement that the U.S. and China hashed retired successful May. And connected Wednesday, Trump said Xi was "extremely hard to marque a woody with" successful a Truth Social post. 

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The negotiations from May prompted some countries to hold that the U.S. would little its tariffs against Chinese imports from 145% to 30%, and China would trim its tariffs against U.S. imports from 125% to 10%.

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.