Trump takes unexpected jab at Elon Musk after billionaire's White House exit: 'Hated me in my first term'

Trump takes unexpected jab at Elon Musk after billionaire's White House exit: 'Hated me in my first term'
Donald Trump took a dig at Elon Musk just days after the billionaire left the White House (Getty Images)

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA: Donald Trump made a bizarre comment about Elon Musk as he exited the White House after serving as a special government employee under the president’s second term.

While speaking to the graduating students at the University of Alabama on Thursday, April 29, the Republican leader bragged about how the businessman and his Silicon Valley pals are now “kissing my a**” after opposing him initially, as per The Daily Beast.

U.S. President Donald Trump walks offstage after delivering remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump's remarks come the day before official commencement ceremonies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump walks offstage after delivering remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Donald Trump uses derogatory language while talking about Elon Musk

Donald Trump, addressing graduating students at the University of Alabama, boasted about Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his fellow Silicon Valley leaders.

He said, “Change is never easy, and the closer you get to success, the more ferociously those with a vested interest in the past will resist you; they want to resist.”

Trump further asserted that “you have to break the system a little bit and follow your own instincts. But if your vision is right, nothing will hold you down, nothing. You have to have the right vision.”

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban as Trump takes the stage to address graduating students at Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump's remarks come the day before commencement ceremonies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban as Trump takes the stage to address graduating students at Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

But his speech went awkward when he said, “If you look at some of these internet people, I know so many of them. Elon is so terrific, but I know now all of them, you know, they all hated me in my first term, and now they’re kissing my a**.”

“You know, It’s true. All of them. It’s true,” the 78-year-old added.

U.S. President Donald Trump walks offstage after delivering remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Trump's remarks come the day before official commencement ceremonies. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump walks offstage after delivering remarks to graduating students at the Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Elon Musk initially opposed Donald Trump

Donald Trump and Elon Musk had not always been on good terms. In 2022, the Tesla CEO reportedly said that the Republican leader was not fit to run for the office because of his old age.

Trump fired back and wrote on Truth Social, “When Elon Musk came to the White House asking me for help on all of his many subsidized projects, whether it’s electric cars that don’t drive long enough, driverless cars that crash, or rocketships to nowhere, without which subsidies he’d be worthless and tell me how he was a big Trump fan and Republican, I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it.”



 

But eventually, the duo came closer as Musk tremendously helped Trump win the 2024 presidential race against Kamala Harris and also joined the administration as the chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Tesla CEO Elon Musk puts on a second hat that reads
Tesla CEO Elon Musk puts on a second hat that reads 'Gulf of America' during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on April 30, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Elon Musk compares himself to Buddha

However, since his tenure has ended, Elon Musk reportedly compared himself to Buddha after being asked who would now lead the department.

The 53-year-old said, “Is Buddha needed for Buddhism? Was it not stronger after he passed away? DOGE is kind of a way of life we make converts all the time.”

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 12: U.S. President Donald Trump watch the Ultimate Fighting Championship with Elon Musk at the Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, Florida. The Trump administration issued a rule late Friday that spared smartphones, computers, semiconductors, and other electronics from some of the tariffs they have enacted. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump watches the Ultimate Fighting Championship with Elon Musk at the Kaseya Center on April 12, 2025, in Miami, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Musk, however, added that he’s “willing to contribute on average one to two days a week, which, you know, probably means coming to DC every other week for three days type of thing. As indefinitely as long as the president wants me to do it.”

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