Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Friday withdrew his threat to decommission the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft used to make trips to the International Space Station, amid a public spat with President Donald Trump.
Musk wrote on social media platform X on Thursday that he would “begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately” after Trump threatened to cut government funding to Musk’s companies, including SpaceX.
“Good advice. Ok, we won’t decommission Dragon,” the SpaceX CEO wrote in response to that suggestion.
Trump said on Truth Social that he may cut contracts and subsidies key to Musk’s businesses. His response came after Musk said that Trump would not have won the 2024 presidential election without his support. He was in turn responding to Trump’s statement that he is “very disappointed” in the Tesla CEO after he had been criticizing the One Big Beautiful Bill that is currently being considered by Senate Republicans.
“I don’t mind Elon turning against me, but he should have done so months ago,” the president also wrote on Thursday. “This is one of the Greatest Bills ever presented to Congress.”
He then added: “I didn’t create this mess, I’m just here to FIX IT. This puts our Country on a Path of Greatness.”
The Dragon capsule, developed with the help of government contracts, is an important part of keeping the space station running. NASA also relies heavily on SpaceX for other programs, including launching science missions and, later this decade, returning astronauts to the surface of the moon.
SpaceX is the only U.S. company capable right now of transporting crews to and from the space station, using its four-person Dragon capsules.
Boeing’s Starliner capsule has flown astronauts only once; last year’s test flight went so poorly that the two NASA astronauts had to hitch a ride back to Earth via SpaceX in March, more than nine months after launching last June. Starliner remains grounded as NASA decides whether to go with another test flight with cargo, rather than a crew.
“I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem. The poor guy’s got a problem,” Trump said, adding that he wishes Musk well.
Also on Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said he believes the two can resolve the issue, adding that he believes “in redemption” and that “it will all work out.”
“He’s a friend. Just trying to get everybody to yes,” he told reporters, referring to Musk as GOP leaders try to get the Trump-backed budget bill passed.
Earlier in the week, Musk called the bill a “disgusting abomination” filled with unnecessary spending.
The comments come just a week after Musk left the White House as an adviser to Trump and the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The pair were cordial in an Oval Office news conference in which Trump presented Musk with a key and thanked him for his work.
“Elon is really not leaving,” Trump said at one point last week. “He’s going to be back and forth.”
Musk said, “I’ll continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser to the president.”