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Trump to Keep Starlink at White House Despite Break with Elon Musk

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he plans to continue using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service at the White House, despite declaring over the weekend that his personal relationship with Musk was over. However, Trump indicated he might move his Tesla vehicle off-site.

“I may move the Tesla around a little bit, but I don’t think we’ll be doing that with Starlink. It’s a good service,” Trump told reporters.

Trump purchased a red Tesla Model S earlier this year when he was still an ally of Musk. Following their recent public feud — sparked by Musk’s harsh criticism of Trump’s tax and spending bill — there were reports the president might get rid of the Tesla, which remained parked at the White House over the weekend.

Despite the spat, Trump said he would have no problem if Musk reached out. “We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well,” he added. Musk responded on X with a heart emoji to a video of Trump’s comments.

Their public clash, beginning last Thursday, followed Musk’s labeling of Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination,” complicating Republican efforts to pass the legislation with narrow majorities in Congress.

Sources close to Musk indicate his anger may be waning, and there could be a possibility of repairing ties.

Tesla Shares Bounce Back After $152 Billion Drop Amid Musk-Trump Fallout

Tesla shares recovered nearly 4% on Friday following a steep $152 billion market value wipeout triggered by a public spat between CEO Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The clash erupted over Trump’s criticism of a tax and spending bill that threatens to end the $7,500 electric vehicle (EV) tax credit by 2025, a move Musk openly opposed.

Earlier reports suggested that Musk and Trump might hold talks to ease tensions, with Musk signaling openness to a détente on his social platform, X. However, a White House official indicated that Trump was not interested in engaging with Musk. In a CNN interview, Trump dismissed Musk, saying, “I’m not even thinking about Elon,” and described him as having “got a problem.”

The conflict escalated when Trump threatened to cut government contracts with Musk’s companies, including SpaceX. Analysts warn that this feud could pose multiple risks for Tesla, especially as regulatory bodies like the U.S. Transportation Department influence the future of autonomous vehicle production—a key part of Tesla’s ambitions.

Despite the recent volatility, Tesla shares remain highly valued, trading at roughly 120 times expected earnings—far above many automakers and tech giants such as Nvidia. The stock has fallen 26.9% year-to-date, with Thursday’s 14% plunge reflecting investor concerns over Musk’s increasingly polarizing political stance.

Since Musk publicly supported Trump’s 2024 presidential bid last July, Tesla’s stock has experienced wild swings. Initial optimism about reduced regulatory burdens for robotaxis gave way to softness in vehicle sales and brand damage related to Musk’s politics. While initial hopes were that strong sales among Republican voters would balance out losses from liberal consumers, experts now warn that Musk’s confrontational posture risks alienating both sides.

“By alienating Republicans, Musk risks losing any remaining support, potentially triggering a collapse in Tesla’s brand perception,” said Evan Roth Smith, political strategist and co-founder of Slingshot Strategies.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

SES Appoints Aerospace Veteran Elisabeth Pataki as New CFO Amid Intelsat Acquisition

European satellite operator SES announced on Friday the appointment of Elisabeth Pataki as its new chief financial officer, effective June 16. Pataki, currently CFO of Aerojet Rocketdyne, a unit of aerospace and defense giant L3Harris, will succeed Sandeep Jalan in the role.

SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh praised Pataki’s extensive experience in the aerospace sector and highlighted her successful track record in managing complex M&A finance integrations. This expertise comes as SES pursues a major $3.1 billion acquisition of Intelsat, a deal set to be one of the decade’s largest in the satellite industry and aimed at challenging SpaceX’s Starlink dominance.

The satellite sector is undergoing significant disruption as Starlink’s rapid expansion pressures traditional operators like SES, raising concerns about their financial stability. SES carries over $5 billion in total debt and has seen its five-year credit default swap (CDS) spreads climb to 235 basis points recently, signaling increased investor worries over default risk.

Despite this, SES confirmed in April that it has secured full financing for the Intelsat acquisition, which is currently awaiting approval from European antitrust authorities. The deal is seen as a strategic move to strengthen SES’s competitive position in a rapidly evolving market.