Elon Musk signals he may back down in public row with Donald Trump

SpaceX owner rows back on threat to decommission Dragon spacecraft after X user advises him to ‘cool off’

President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk speak to reporters near a red Model S Tesla vehicle on the South Lawn of the White House Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Washington. (Pool via AP)

Elon Musk has suggested he may de-escalate his public row with Donald Trump after their spectacular falling out.

The Tesla chief executive signalled he might back down on a pledge to decommission the Dragon spacecraft – made by his SpaceX business – in an exchange on his X social media platform. He also responded positively to a call from fellow multibillionaire Bill Ackman to “make peace” with the US president.