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WASHINGTON \u2015 US President Donald Trump<\/a> on Thursday broke his silence on Elon Musk <\/a>following the former White House adviser\u2019s harsh criticism of Trump\u2019s signature legislation on Capitol Hill. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In remarks at the White House, Trump said he was surprised by Musk\u2019s criticism of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill and that Musk knew how the bill phases out green energy tax credits that benefit his company. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cElon and I had a great relationship. I don\u2019t know if we will anymore,\u201d Trump said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t said bad about me personally, but I\u2019m sure that\u2019ll be next. But I\u2019m very disappointed in Elon. I\u2019ve helped Elon a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The legislation combines more than $4 trillion in tax cuts and new spending with less than $2 trillion in cuts to federal food and health programs, for a net deficit of more than $2 trillion. Musk has called the bill a \u201cdisgusting abomination\u201d and said Congress should kill it because of its deficit impact. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Trump noted that Musk had not criticised him personally. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI\u2019d rather have him criticise me than the bill because the bill is incredible,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt\u2019s the biggest cut in the history of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The president had notably avoided commenting on Musk since Tuesday, when he first laid into the legislation. Thursday\u2019s remarks came during the president\u2019s first public event with reporters this week, a meeting with the chancellor of Germany in the Oval Office. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Trump said Musk disliked how the bill phases out green energy tax credits that benefit his electric car company, Tesla. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cElon\u2019s upset because we took the EV mandate and, you know, which was a lot of money for electric vehicles,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd you know, they\u2019re having a hard time, the electric vehicles, and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Musk immediately responded in a series of posts on his social media website. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cWhatever. Keep the EV\/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill,\u201d Musk wrote<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Trump also suggested Musk was upset the White House rejected his preferred candidate to run NASA. He then commented on the bruise on Musk\u2019s face when he appeared with Trump in the Oval Office for a farewell meeting just last week. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI said, \u2018Do you want a little makeup? We\u2019ll get you a little makeup.\u2019 But he said, \u2018No, I don\u2019t think so.\u2019 Which is interesting, and very nice. He wants to be who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Still, Trump said Musk did a good job in his role as chief of the \u201cDepartment of Government Efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cI think he misses the place. I think he got out there, and all of a sudden, he wasn\u2019t in this beautiful Oval Office.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Musk then responded to a clip of Trump talking about their friendship on X, writing<\/a>: \u201cWithout me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n