Amid ongoing spat, President Biden wishes Elon Musk ‘lots of luck on his trip to the moon’

On Thursday, news broke that the Tesla CEO had emailed company executives that he wants to cut 10% of the electric car company’s jobs and put in place a hiring freeze due to his fears about the state of the economy. Musk told the executives that he has a “super bad feeling” about the economy.

President Joe Biden was asked about Musk’s “super bad feeling” at his press conference and fired back with a few comments about how other major car companies making electric vehicles are investing in the economy.

“Well, let me tell you, while Elon Musk is talking about that, Ford is increasing their investment overwhelmingly. I think Ford is increasing investment in building new electric vehicles, 6,000 new employees, union employees, I might add, in the Midwest,” he stated, adding: “The former Chrysler Corporation, Stellantis, they are also making similar investments in electric vehicles. Intel is adding 20,000 new jobs, making computer chips.”

“So, you know, lots of luck on his trip to the Moon. I mean, I don’t know,” Biden dismissively said, concluding his Friday press conference.

Musk responded to Biden’s comments on Twitter, writing, “Thanks Mr President!” including a link to a 2021 NASA press release about the space agency selecting SpaceX to work on a future lunar mission.

Many Twitter users chimed in on the spat, as Fox News noted.

Occupy Democrats’ account tweeted, “BREAKING: Joe Biden mocks GOP-supporting billionaire Elon Musk for saying he wants to fire 10% of Tesla employees because he has a ‘super bad feeling’ about the economy, jokingly wishes him ‘lots of luck on his trip to the moon.’ RT IF YOU LOVE WHEN BIDEN SHADES RIGHT-WINGERS!”

Reuters White House editor Heather Timmons tweeted her assessment that Biden’s Ford comments were the real insult to Musk. She wrote, “While Biden’s sarcastic moon comment is getting a lot of play, his Ford comparison is the real dig, implying Musk is a bad manager.”

Space News senior writer Jeff Foust pointed out that the government that Biden runs is investing in Musk. He tweeted, “NASA is paying SpaceX $2.9 billion for that trip to the Moon…”

Quartz senior reporter Tim Fernholz slammed Biden over the comment, tweeting, “lol Musk’s trip to the moon is the centerpiece of the Biden administration’s space policy. Good example of this administration’s lack of interest in NASA.”

Liberal journalist Ana Marie Cox actually went against Biden and his supporters on this one, tweeting, “The degree to which people are celebrating Biden’s dunk on Elon Musk just reminds me of the very low bar some Democrats have for their elected officials.”