21 November,2025 08:30 AM IST | Washington | Agencies
(From left) Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia sits with Tesla CEO Elon Musk as US President Donald Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum on Wednesday. PIC/AFP
US President Donald Trump again targeted the Tesla CEO, ensuring their long-running rift remained in focus. Addressing the US-Saudi Investment Forum in his signature unscripted style on Wednesday (Thursday India time), Trump repeatedly mentioned the "favours" he claimed to have done for Musk during the billionaire's short leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Before continuing his remarks, Trump paused to ask, "Has he ever thanked me for that properly?" Trump also asserted that his administration was providing the middle class "a deduction on the interest if they buy one of a nice Tesla car and they borrow the money." Glancing in billionaire Elon Musk's direction, he remarked, "You're so lucky. I'm with you, Elon." Moments later, he joked, "Though I do let him buy cars that aren't electric - but those are minor details."
Trump defends H-1B visa
Speaking at the forum, Trump said companies investing heavily in advanced facilities cannot "open a massive computer chip factory for billions and billions of dollars" and then "hire people off an unemployment line to run it," stressing that foreign experts are often required to train American workers before leaving. Despite opposition from some MAGA supporters, Trump maintained that high-skilled immigration is essential.
âMeeting Mamdani today'
The US President said that New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet him at the White House on Friday (Saturday India time). Trump has been critical of Mamdani's policies and had warned on the eve of the November 4 election that Mamdani's win would be a "complete and total economic and social disaster" for New York City.
â350% tax threat ended war'
At the forum, Trump once again claimed that he personally stopped India and Pakistan from approaching a nuclear confrontation, saying he warned both nations with harsh economic measures, including at 350 per cent tariff on each country during the tense period in May 2025.
Musk says âthank you'
Soon after the forum, Musk signalled a possible easing of tensions and posted on X, "I would like to thank President Trump for all he has done for America and the world." He accompanied the message with photographs of himself alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, NVIDIA chief Jensen Huang and Trump at the Washington event.
Trump signs bill for release of all Epstein files
US President Donald Trump announced that he had signed a bill directing the Department of Justice to publicly release all its Jeffrey Epstein-related files. Trump made the announcement in a lengthy social media post, using it to criticise Democrats over their associations with Epstein. "Perhaps the truth about these Democrats, and their associations with Jeffrey Epstein, will soon be revealed, because I have just signed the bill to release the Epstein files!," he said, referring to former president Bill Clinton, former treasury secretary Larry Summers and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman.
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