Musk claims he is why Trump won in 2024 as president and ‘first buddy’ trade barbs over spending bill: Live

Rep. Eugene Vindman appeared on CNN News Central on Thursday, calling out Trump’s travel ban as a “xenophobic approach to international relations.”

“Look, it’s a continuation of what we saw in the first administration,” he said. “It’s … this xenophobic approach to international relations. It’s not really based on credible threats or, I mean, obviously, a number of the countries that are targeted … are not particularly friendly.”

“They’re not democratic regimes,” he added. “But it’s not based on … logic and reason and analysis.”

“I mean, otherwise, you would see some sort of action geared towards Egypt. It’s based on really a handful of folks at the White House and the president’s whims. That’s it,” said Vindman.

Elon Musk further responded to Trump’s comments on Thursday after the president expressed disappointment in Musk’s opposition to his primary congressional legislation, which aims to advance his agenda.

Musk wrote on X on Thursday, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.”

“Such ingratitude,” he added.

You’d think we’d be used to it by now – but today we’re coming to terms with another Trump travel ban, the embarrassment of which has been amplified by his decision to announce it in a solemn national address on the television; like JFK in the Cuban missile crisis, or Nixon saying he had never been a quitter in his resignation statement.

After Trump said he was “disappointed” in Musk for his criticism of his main legislative priority, Musk pushed back on X.

“I’m very disappointed with Elon. I’ve helped him a lot,” said Trump on Thursday. “He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out we’re going to cut the EV mandate.”

Musk called the allegation “false.”

“This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” he said.

Trump said he was still “with Ukraine” during his meeting with Merz in the Oval Office.

“I’m with Ukraine. We just signed a big deal on rare earth with Ukraine, and … you know what I’m for — stopping killing,” said Trump.

He then seemingly proceeded to complain about the money spent on the war.

“We spent $350 billion, much more than Europe. But Europe spent a lot, also, and they spent way over 100 billion,” he said. “So you’re talking about close to $500 billion went into that whole thing.”

Afghan Evac represents several groups working with the government to resettle Afghans following the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Its president, Shawn VanDiver, wrote on X that “Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders are exempt from the ban. Afghans can still apply for SIV status. But let’s be clear: tens of thousands of others are now blocked from entry.”

He added that the ban wasn’t put in place because of the attack in Boulder, Colorado.

“It was drafted weeks ago and held until a tragedy could be used as cover. That’s not leadership. That’s fear politics,” he said.

Trump criticized Musk for his criticism of his “big, beautiful bill,” the main legislation furthering the president’s agenda.

“I’m very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here, better than you people,” Trump said in front of the assembled press corps.

“He knew everything about it. He had no problem with it,” he added. “All of a sudden, he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out that we’re going to have to cut the EV mandate.”

A reporter asked Trump if he’s willing to put more pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine by imposing further tariffs.

“Well, remember, I’m the one that ended Nord Stream 2, going to a place called Germany,” he said of the pipeline between Russia and Germany. “And then when Biden came in, he immediately approved it. That’s the largest, essentially the largest pipeline in the world, going to Germany and other countries.”

“By the way, we have so much oil and gas. You will not be able to buy it all,” Trump added. “I mean, you literally have so much. And I hope we’re going to make that a part of our trade deal, because we have more than anybody else.”