Trump says he wants Musk to thrive, not to destroy him

Catch up quick: On Wednesday, asked if Trump supported Musk's AI business getting federal business, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said "I don't think so, no."

• Leavitt also said she'd ask Trump about the possibility of canceling xAI's existing contracts.

What they're saying: On Thursday Trump answered the question.

• "Everyone is stating that I will destroy Elon's companies by taking away some, if not all, of the large scale subsidies he receives from the U. S. Government. This is not so! I want Elon, and all businesses within our Country, to THRIVE, in fact, THRIVE like never before!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
• He added that the better Musk's companies did, the better the country would do.

By the numbers: Musk's companies, as it happened, weren't doing particularly well Thursday.

• Tesla shares fell 9% in mid-morning trading, after the company reported disappointing earnings, and warned that the changes in Trump's recently signed tax bill could weigh on results in coming quarters.

What to watch: How, or if, Musk responds, and whether that response re-escalates the fight again.