Elon Musk, after months of public feuding with Donald Trump, signalled a possible thaw in relations with a flurry of social media posts backing the US President’s latest show of federal muscle in Washington,
DC.
On Monday, Trump announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the capital and the temporary takeover of its police department, in a move that bypassed the city’s elected leadership and invoked presidential powers under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. He framed the action as necessary to “rescue” the city from violent crime, despite data showing that rates have been falling sharply this year after a 2023 spike.
Musk’s support came in replies to posts from senior Trump officials and allies. When White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller wrote, “MAKE DC SAFE AND BEAUTIFUL AGAIN!”, Musk simply answered, “Yes,” later adding that revitalising America’s cities must begin with the nation’s capital. He also responded approvingly to comments from Vice President JD Vance praising Trump’s move with the American flag’s emoji.
The warmth follows a bitter public clash earlier this year, when Musk attacked Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill for slashing electric vehicle incentives, prompting Trump to question Musk’s reliance on federal subsidies.
Yes
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 11, 2025
The dispute escalated with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon calling Musk a “dangerous alien” and floating nationalisation of SpaceX. Musk, in turn, accused Bannon of betraying “reason” and hinted at launching an “America Party” to challenge the Republican establishment.
It isn’t clear whether Musk had taken steps to formally create the new political party. Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn’t immediately comment as per a July report by the Associated Press.
🚨NEW: JD Vance on @elonmusk:
"I really think it's a mistake for him to try to break from the president. So my hope is that by the time of the midterms he's kind of come back into the fold."
"If you're patriotic, you're not trying to stick your knife in the back of the… pic.twitter.com/yAJYePx3ni
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) August 10, 2025
On Monday, however, Vance publicly urged Musk to “come back into the fold” before the midterms, calling it a “mistake” for him to remain at odds with the president.
🇺🇸
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 12, 2025
“I think it’s a mistake for him to try to break from the president – my hope is that by the time of the midterms, he’s kind of come back into the fold,” Vance said. “If you’re patriotic, you’re not trying to stick your knife in the back of the president, you’re not trying to betray the movement, I don’t care about these minor little disagreements and issues,” he further added in an interview with the Daily Caller.
Musk’s online nods to the administration’s Washington crackdown have fuelled speculation that the world’s richest man may be edging back toward the MAGA camp.
