The onlookers are all waiting for this call, will Trump have a "century reconciliation" with Musk?

Written by: Zhang Yaqi, Wall Street Journal

While Wall Street is still digesting the shockwaves of "Te Ma" publicly tearing off the mask, the White House has quietly initiated crisis management—arranging for Trump to have a call with Musk tonight. Advisers suggested that Trump focus on pushing the "Great Beautiful" bill through the Senate, rather than the conflict with Musk.

Just as Wall Street is still digesting the shockwave of "Te Ma" publicly tearing apart, the White House has quietly initiated crisis public relations - will a call scheduled for Friday achieve a "century reconciliation" between both sides?

Last night, the American political stage experienced a dramatic 180-degree turn. On the same day that Musk bombarded Trump with criticism over the "Big Beautiful Bill," the U.S. president appeared calm and collected during an interview with overseas media.

"Oh, it's fine," Trump said during a phone interview with the media today when discussing his public break with the former super donor, "Everything is going smoothly, never been better." He then began to boast about his approval ratings, claiming, "The numbers are off the charts, this is the highest poll I've ever had."

This understated attitude stands in stark contrast to the fierce exchanges the two had on social media a few hours ago. More importantly, Trump's aides have arranged for the President to speak with Musk tonight in an attempt to mediate a peace.

Wall Street tycoons urgently firefighting

When the feud between the two most powerful men in the world threatens a legislative process involving trillions of dollars, heavyweight figures in the financial world can no longer sit idly by. Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was the first to call for a ceasefire on the X platform.

"I support Trump and Musk; they should reconcile for the benefit of our great country."

Musk's response is thought-provoking: "You're not wrong."

Netizen Alaska advised both parties to calm down and take a step back. Musk responded, saying: Good suggestion, I will not let the Dragon spacecraft retire.

This subtle statement was interpreted by the market as a positive signal of reconciliation, indicating Musk's open attitude towards easing tensions. Well-known media personality Joe Weisenthal remarked that a small account with only 184 followers "facilitated the reconciliation of the two most powerful people in the world."

Can the grievances come to an end?

According to media reports citing sources close to the White House, Trump’s aides have been persuading the president to rein in his public criticism of Musk to avoid further escalation of the situation. This effort showed results on Thursday—Trump noticeably tempered his language on his Truth Social platform.

"I don't mind Elon opposing me, but he should have done it a few months ago," Trump wrote, before shifting focus to emphasize the importance of the bill:

"This is one of the greatest bills submitted to Congress."

White House aides suggest that Trump focus on pushing the bill through the Senate rather than on the conflict with Musk.

The core of this dispute revolves around Trump's "Big Beautiful Plan" - a piece of legislation that integrates the president's core agenda, covering various aspects from tax cuts to immigration enforcement. Musk expressed strong dissatisfaction with the projected cost of the plan adding $2.4 trillion to the deficit, which directly triggered a public confrontation between the two.

As the bill faces a crucial vote in the Senate, any political noise that could affect its passage is seen as an intolerable risk. This call on Friday may determine whether this ambitious legislation can proceed smoothly, and whether the personal feud between the two business tycoons will be overshadowed by larger political realities.