Conservative Pundit Has Fitting Reaction To Trump-Musk Public Feud

CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings stuck his head in a trash bin to demonstrate how he and other Republicans felt amid President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk's public fallout on Thursday (June 5).

Jennings, 47, who worked in former President George W. Bush's administration and has been described as an adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell, attempted to give conservatives' sentiment while appearing on the panel for The Lead with Jake Tapper.

“Let me just tell you what every Republican is doing,” Jennings said before grabbing a small trash bin and putting his head inside “Here’s where we are today. Heads are in the garbage can right now. That’s the state of everybody I know at the moment.”

The pundit then took a more serious tone.

“Not gonna lie. It’s an ugly day and, you know, you hate it when your friends are fighting. I continue to believe that their partnership last year saved America, and I also continue to believe their goals are not mutually exclusive," Jennings said.

On Thursday (June 5), Musk, who had previously led the administration's Department of Government Efficiency, claimed that Trump was included in the Jeffrey Epstein files, which is "the real reason they have not been made public," in a post shared on his X account amid their public fallout.

"Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" Musk said.

Musk's claim came after both traded public bars following their recent split.

"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore," Trump told reporters earlier in the day via ABC News.

Musk responded in a post shared on his X account claiming Trump was showing "such ingratitude" after he spent more than $270 million backing his presidential campaign in 2024.

"Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill," Musk wrote in a separate post. "In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way."

Musk and Trump hadn't spoken to each other since the Tesla CEO announced his decision to depart from the administration last week and public stance against the president's "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act," two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ABC News on Thursday. Trump had, however, downplayed Musk's public criticism of the spending bill as he claimed he hadn't made any personal attacks while fielding reporters' questions alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on Thursday.

"He hasn’t said anything about me that’s bad. I’d rather have him criticize me than the bill, because the bill is incredible," Trump said of Musk.