"Musk, 80% genius but 20% is the problem"…Trump beckons return to the party

Trump on Musk in interview

"No choice" Expectation of return to the Republican Party

U.S. President Donald Trump praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk while also saying he expects him to rejoin the party.

On the 3rd (local time), according to Bloomberg and others, President Trump said in a pre-recorded interview on the 'Scott Jennings Show', "He is a good person. He just strayed onto the wrong path for a moment," adding, "That's okay. Things like that can happen."

He also said of Musk, "80% is a super genius but 20% is a problem," and assessed, "If he fixes that 20% he will become great. But currently he has difficulties."

Musk supported Republican candidate President Trump in last year's U.S. election. He then emerged as a key figure in the Trump administration. He led the Government Efficiency Department (DOGE) early in the administration but ultimately parted ways over President Trump's large tax cut bill.

President Trump and Musk escalated their conflict by publicly insulting each other via social media (SNS) and other platforms. Musk also expressed his intention to found a third party that would challenge both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party ahead of next November's midterm elections.

In the interview, President Trump said he believed Musk would have no choice but to return to the Republican Party. He said, "I think Musk has no choice." As the reason, he pointed out that Musk's political options are the Republican Party on one side and "radical left maniacs" (the Democratic Party) on the other.

Kim Dae-young, Hankyung.com reporter kdy@hankyung.com