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In a dramatic turn of events, President Donald Trump has declined to hold a conciliatory call with billionaire Elon Musk after a heated public disagreement. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles confirmed that no such call was scheduled for Friday, contradicting earlier reports suggesting the contrary.

Wiles revealed that President Trump is uninterested in resolving the spat via a phone call. Instead, the President remains focused on advancing his "One Big Beautiful Bill," a GOP domestic policy measure that Musk vocally criticized, sparking the feud. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump has remained fixated on the bill, with his administration indicating no immediate plans to ease tensions.

The fallout between Trump and Musk, however, may have deeper roots, with insiders suggesting a long-standing, albeit quiet, friction between Musk and other Trump administration officials during his tenure at the Department of Government Efficiency. Personal clashes between Musk and Wiles further fueled the discord, leading to an atmosphere of irritation and distrust within the administration.

As a result, the White House has taken this feud seriously, engaging in multiple closed-door meetings to address Musk's social media onslaught. Vice President JD Vance, who was with Trump when the tweets began, spoke multiple times with the President that afternoon. Trump advised Vance to strike a diplomatic tone if questioned about Musk, a directive Vance adhered to in a post on X later that evening.

Adding to the personal dimension of the conflict, Trump is contemplating whether to sell or give away the red Tesla he purchased earlier this year. According to a senior White House official, no final decision has been made.

The public spat, which began with Trump criticizing Musk's disparagement of the GOP policy measure, has rippled through Congress and affected Tesla's stock prices. Trump expressed his disappointment in Musk during a bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor, emphasizing the extensive support he had provided to Musk in the past.

For his part, Musk denied extensive knowledge of the contested legislation, claiming it was hastily passed without sufficient transparency. The two continued to exchange barbs throughout the day on social media, with Musk posting over 40 times to criticize the GOP tax bill and counter Trump's remarks.

The dispute arrives at a complicated time for the GOP, as Democrats eye Musk's opposition as potentially bolstering their efforts to block Trump's tax and spending legislation. Some Republicans, like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, voiced their disappointment and attempted to downplay Musk's influence. Others, including Rep. Don Bacon, chose to remain neutral, citing protective biblical wisdom about avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

As the standoff continues, the possibility of reconciliation remains uncertain, with Trump's advisers suggesting Musk must first extend an olive branch and apologize for the situation to de-escalate. Whether this will happen remains to be seen.