Elon Musk’s abrupt shift from blasting President Donald Trump to endorsing his handling of the Los Angeles riots, which flared on June 6, 2025, over immigration arrests, has left observers reeling.

Last week, the billionaire Tesla CEO was torching Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and questioning his leadership, but by June 8, Musk was reposting Trump’s Truth Social messages with American flag emojis, signaling support for the administration’s crackdown.

This 180, set against the backdrop of violent protests and National Guard deployment, underscores Musk’s unpredictable influence and the high-stakes drama of their relationship.

Last week, Musk was unrelenting in his criticism of Trump’s $1.6 trillion tax and spending bill.

“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” he posted on X on June 3, urging lawmakers to “kill the bill.”

He dug up a 2013 Trump tweet criticizing debt ceiling extensions, adding, “Wise words.” Musk escalated further, claiming:

“Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,”

He also called Trump’s ingratitude “stunning.” He even backed a post suggesting Trump’s impeachment, saying,

“In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that is both big and beautiful.”

Trump fired back, saying, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” and threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts, calling him “crazy.”

By June 8, Musk’s tone flipped. As LA protests over ICE raids turned violent, with 2,000 National Guard troops deployed, Musk reposted Trump’s Truth Social message:

“Governor Gavin Newscum and ‘Mayor’ Bass should apologize to the people of Los Angeles for the absolutely horrible job that they’ve done, and this now includes the ongoing L.A. riots.”

Musk added two American flag emojis, a clear nod of support. He also shared Vice President JD Vance’s post, which included Trump’s words:

“A once great American city, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations—But these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve.”

Musk’s posts aligned with Trump’s call for order, a stark contrast to his earlier attacks.

The riots provided context for Musk’s pivot. Protesters, clashing with federal agents and setting cars ablaze, prompted Trump’s vow to expel “troublemakers and insurrectionists.”

Musk, reacting to images of chaos, posted, “This is not O.K …,” signaling his alignment with the administration’s response.

Unlike last week’s barrage—where he called the bill a “deficit-fueling behemoth” and mocked Trump’s tariffs as recession-inducing—Musk’s recent posts avoided policy critiques, focusing instead on law and order.

Yet Musk’s shift may stem from pragmatic concerns, as his companies, like SpaceX, rely on federal contracts Trump threatened to cut.

“The community loses. The feds lose. We all lose,”

LA Police Chief Brian O’Hara said, capturing the broader stakes as Newsom and Trump trade barbs. Musk’s newfound support, amid this turmoil, suggests a calculated move to mend ties with a president wielding immense power.