'Sour grapes': Musk reportedly turned on Trump after being forced out of WH
Elon Musk, the former de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, reportedly wanted to stay on in the White House beyond his 130 days as a "special government employee" to continue cutting government waste, "but was rejected," according to The Telegraph.
The outlet quoted a source as saying that Musk "had asked to stay on to make more progress towards his target of slashing $1 trillion from spending but was told that would not be possible."
After being ushered out of the West Wing last week, taking with him a gold key presented in a keepsake wooden box bearing Donald Trump's signature, Musk immediately turned on the president and his "big, beautiful bill," the report said.
Musk lashed out on his social media platform X, slamming the bill as a “disgusting abomination” and threatening to work against Republicans who voted for the measure.
"A day later, a Trump world insider said administration officials were 'disappointed' with his reaction," the report said, adding, "And a source close to Mr Musk said it was a case of 'sour grapes'".
Musk was known for wearing a MAGA baseball cap with the words, "Trump was right about everything," but that sentiment obviously disintegrated.
The Telegraph quoted "a figure close to the White House" as saying "officials were upset by the nature of his attack."
“It’s safe to say people are disappointed,” the source said. “He’s done a lot of really great work, and he’s fundamentally changed the way things like fraud, waste and abuse are viewed in Washington. But he left. So he speaks now as a business person, not as a government entity and that’s the way to understand what he says.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Musk's outburst by saying, “The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion."
On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said he tried to phone Musk but was ignored.
"I called Elon last night but he didn't answer," Johnson told reporters. "But I hope to talk to him today...I'd love to talk to him this week and I hope he calls me back today."