Musk cited a contract fulfilment as a reason for his exit, but Trump said he asked the businessman to leave because he was “wearing thin”. 

Trump’s comments came after both men traded words on social media.

In a series of posts on X, Musk accused the US president of being in the Jeffrey Epstein files, warning that his tariffs would cause a recession.

The tech tycoon also backed calls for Trump’s impeachment and called the president ungrateful for helping him win the elections. 

Most of the posts have now been deleted.

However, Trump told NBC News in a phone interview on Saturday that Musk was “disrespectful to the office of the president”. 

Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX chief executive officer (CEO) was over, Trump said, “I would assume so, yeah”.

“No,” he added when asked if he had any wish to repair the relationship.

Trump said he had no plans to speak with his former employee any time soon.

“I’m too busy doing other things,” he said, adding, “I have no intention of speaking to him.”

“I think it’s a very bad thing, because he’s very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the president,” he added.

The ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ approved by Trump has been passed by the house but is still being debated at the senate.

The president said there would be “serious consequences” if Musk, who is deeply critical of the bill, funds Democratic candidates to run against Republicans who vote in favour of the legislation.

Trump did not share what those consequences would be.

He also dismissed Musk’s accusations of him being named in the Epstein files, calling it “old news”.

“Even Epstein’s lawyer said I had nothing to do with it,” he told NBC.

As part of the fallout consequences, Trump said he would cancel federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies.

The president later told NBC he had not given any thought to his suggestion.

Trump also said he had received calls from allies who have recommended investigations into Musk’s business dealings and immigration record.