Just a few days after going head-to-head with Trump, Musk suddenly made an effort to reconcile. Was it because of Trump's position or because Trump had shown restraint?

Not long ago, Musk posted a series of comments on social media criticizing Trump. However, after speaking his mind frankly, Musk seemed to realize the severity of the situation and publicly expressed regret, saying he "went too far."

(Musk apologizes to Trump)

In addition, earlier, Musk also shared Trump's statement about the protests in Los Angeles on social media. Clearly, they held the same view on this issue.

As for Trump, he acknowledged Musk's apology and recognized the act of admitting mistakes. A few hours after Musk's apology, an interview featuring Trump was aired, in which Trump said he was not angry with Musk but felt disappointed.

Given the current situation, after several days of verbal sparring between Trump and Musk, there seems to be a possibility of thawing relations. So why did this happen? Was it Musk who took the initiative to make peace, or was it something he had no choice but to do?

Looking back at late May, when Musk ended his term as a "special government employee," Trump held a farewell ceremony for him in the Oval Office at the White House. At that time, their relationship appeared to be in a "honeymoon phase" from an outsider's perspective. However, within a few days, the situation took a sharp turn. Their public "verbal jabs" left many stunned. The cause was a bill called "Big and Beautiful."

(Trump holds a press conference at the White House to bid farewell to Musk)

This was a large legislative proposal put forward by Trump under the circumstances where Republicans held a slight advantage. The bill covered multiple fields, from continuing Trump's tax cuts to border control budgets, and total spending reached $5 trillion. However, due to a lack of funding sources, the bill attempted to balance the budget by cutting Medicaid and clean energy support, which sparked strong opposition from fiscal conservatives.

It was against this backdrop that the conflict between Musk and Trump escalated. Musk criticized the bill for exacerbating America's fiscal deficit, effectively ignoring his previous efforts to reduce government spending. Trump, however, remained unwavering, leading to an invisible "war" in the public sphere.

So, if Musk was so dissatisfied, why did he take the initiative to apologize to Trump? The reason might not be hard to guess. Ultimately, power outweighs everything; it cannot be denied that Trump, as the U.S. President, is an undeniable force for any American company.

(The fuse for Musk and Trump's rift was a bill called "Big and Beautiful")

For Musk, his business empire spans multiple fields such as space exploration and automobile manufacturing, and contracts with the U.S. government are an important part of his career map. Therefore, from a business perspective, maintaining a good relationship with Trump is clearly more beneficial for his commercial interests.

On the other hand, the timing of Musk's apology is intriguing. Just before Musk "regretted his words," multiple U.S. media outlets reported that government departments had been closely monitoring Musk. These investigations mainly focused on foreigners around Musk, particularly foreign visitors to his properties, suggesting that the U.S. government was concerned about the possibility of Musk being influenced by foreign forces.

From the timeline of the surveillance, these investigations occurred during the Biden administration. Logically, Biden's actions were justified. Now, Trump does not seem to have continued this surveillance action. If he wanted to target Musk, he could have monitored him as well. Clearly, Trump seemed to have shown restraint, leaving Musk with some dignity. This may also be one of the reasons why Musk took the initiative to reconcile.

(In 2023, Turkish President Erdogan visited the U.S., and Musk met with him accompanied by his son)

In general, these events are not just about the ups and downs of the private relationship between Trump and Musk. They seem to hide deeper political and economic struggles. The "Big and Beautiful" bill pushed by Trump is not only a symbol for the Republican Party but also a key factor in consolidating political capital and ensuring the midterm elections proceed smoothly. As a flagbearer of the business world, any shift in Musk's stance could have a significant guiding effect on the public.

For Trump, ensuring that influential business leaders like Musk do not become opponents is crucial. Musk's influence and innovative spirit are highly regarded in the tech industry and are seen as symbols of American economic vitality. Losing Musk's support, or even his neutral stance, would likely create waves among the public, a mystery that only time can reveal.

Looking at Musk, although he has always been known for bold innovation and unique insights, when facing pressure from government approvals and financial needs, he often needs to show a practical side.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7514887257275367988/

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