Errol Musk, father of billionaire Elon Musk, has weighed in on the escalating feud between his son and U.S. President Donald Trump, attributing the fallout to mounting stress and fatigue on both sides. Speaking in Moscow during an interview with Russian newspaper Izvestia, the elder Musk urged the public to view the dispute in a broader context.

“They’ve both been under immense pressure for months — give them a break,” Errol Musk said. “They’re tired, they’re stressed. This kind of thing is bound to happen.”

The rift erupted last week after Elon Musk publicly slammed Trump’s tax and spending bill, labeling it a “disgusting abomination” on social media. The criticism sparked a bitter exchange, with Trump later declaring the end of his alliance with Musk and threatening “serious consequences” if the Tesla CEO supported Democrats challenging pro-bill Republicans.

Errol Musk said he believed Elon erred by taking the issue public. “He’s made a mistake, I think. But he’s exhausted,” he added. “This is a small thing — it’ll blow over.”

While Trump has publicly distanced himself from Musk, neither the White House nor Musk’s representatives have responded to requests for comment.

The falling-out comes after Musk had become a key backer of Trump’s 2024 campaign, contributing significant funds and accepting a leadership role in a contentious plan to shrink the federal workforce and slash government spending.

Despite the public spat, Errol Musk appeared optimistic about Trump’s political standing. “He’s the president — he was elected. That’s the bottom line,” he said.