President Donald Trump offered a tempered response to Elon Musk's early-morning apology after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO said he "regrets" recent social media posts attacking the president. The exchange marks a possible de-escalation in a public feud that has rattled markets and spotlighted a rift between two of the country's most influential figures.

"I thought it was very nice that he did that," Trump told The New York Post in a brief phone call Wednesday morning, though he stopped short of saying whether reconciliation was likely. The interview was conducted before Musk's apology, but released after the post went live.

Musk, 53, posted just after 3 a.m. ET Wednesday, "I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far." He did not specify which statements he was referring to or explain what prompted his reversal.

The feud began last Thursday when Musk accused Trump of sabotaging transparency around convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's connections to public figures, and claimed the president would not have won the 2024 election without his backing. At one point, Musk replied "Yes" to a user who suggested Trump should be impeached.

The exchange was triggered in part by Trump's so-called "big beautiful bill," a massive federal spending package that Musk called a "disgusting abomination." Trump has touted the bill as a signature legislative achievement, while Musk warned it could drive the U.S. into unsustainable debt.

Trump expressed disappointment during a taped interview released Wednesday. "I was disappointed in him," the president said. "But it is what it is. It happens. Things like that happen. I don't blame him for anything. I was a little disappointed."

In an earlier interview with NBC News, Trump warned there would be "serious consequences" if Musk financially supported Democratic candidates opposed to the administration's budget agenda. He also suggested the U.S. could reevaluate its partnerships with Musk's companies, several of which benefit from federal subsidies and contracts.

Since the spat began, Tesla shares dropped sharply, shedding $152 billion in market capitalization in their largest single-week loss on record. The stock has since rebounded slightly, though investor anxiety remains high as Musk's political friction adds volatility to the company's public profile.