WASHINGTON, June  5, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said
Thursday he was "very disappointed" by Elon Musk's criticism of his policy
mega-bill, adding he didn't know if his friendship with his billionaire former
advisor would survive.

In an extraordinary rant in the Oval Office as visiting German Chancellor
Friedrich Merz sat mutely beside him, Trump unloaded on SpaceX and Tesla boss
Musk in his first comments on the issue.

"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will
anymore. I was surprised," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after former
advisor Musk slammed the bill as an "abomination".

"I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill
better than almost anybody sitting here... All of a sudden, he had a problem,"
Trump added.

Musk hit back minutes later on his X social network, saying the 78-year-old
president's claims he had advance sight of the bill were "false."

"Whatever," he added above a video of Trump saying Musk was upset about the
loss of subsidies for electric vehicles.

The latest clash comes less than a week since Trump held a grand Oval
Office farewell for Musk as he wrapped up his time leading the cost-cutting
Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk stunned reporters at the time by turning up with a black eye that he
said was caused by his son.

"You saw a man who was very happy when he stood behind the Oval desk, and
even with the black eye. I said, you want a little makeup? We'll get you a
little makeup," Trump said.

"But he said, 'No, I don't think so,' which is interesting and very nice.
He wants to be who he is."

Trump said he could understand why Musk was upset with some steps he had
taken, including withdrawing a nominee to lead the NASA space agency whom the
tech tycoon had backed.

The US president's "big, beautiful bill" on tax and spending -- the
centerpiece of his domestic agenda -- could define his second term and make or
break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.

Musk however called it a "disgusting abomination" on Tuesday. A day later,
the magnate called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative
plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit."