Trump says Musk ‘has lost his mind’ as feud with Tesla tycoon continues

President Donald Trump continued his war of words with Elon Musk on Friday, saying the Tesla tycoon “has lost his mind” — even as Musk seemed to be softening his stance in their epic feud.

Trump on Friday told reporters that while Musk may be ready to make amends, he’s not ready to rekindle his friendship with the tech billionaire, whose public criticism of the president’s "Big Beautiful Bill" — he called the proposed budget legislation a “disgusting abomination” — sparked their ugly breakup.

“You mean the man who has lost his mind?” Trump said to ABC News’ Jonathan Karl when asked about Musk. The president added he is “not particularly” interested in speaking with Musk directly even though he claimed Musk has been trying to talk to him.

“I’m not even thinking about Elon. He’s got a problem,” Trump told CNN. “The poor guy’s got a problem.” Musk didn’t immediately respond to the new round of barbs from Trump, though the world’s richest man signaled late Thursday that he was interested in lowering the temperature of their blow-up.

—New York Daily News

GOP congresswoman condemns New Jersey Sikh man for leading prayer in Congress

After leading the U.S. House in a prayer with an entreaty to God to help people “remember that we belong to one family” on Friday, a Sikh man from South Jersey was the target of a highly critical social media post by U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., who found the participation by a non-Christian “deeply troubling.”

In a post that’s been taken down, she wrote on X that the man “should never have been allowed” to lead the prayer, according to Politico. She called for Congress to uphold the “truth” that “America was founded as a Christian nation.”

Miller initially misidentified the man, Giani Surinder Singh of the South Jersey Sikh Society in Vineland, Cumberland County, as Muslim, according to Politico. Rep.

Jeff Van Drew, a Republican who represents South Jersey, had invited Singh to lead the prayer before the House had been called to order, part of congressional tradition.

—The Philadelphia Inquirer

Lethal algae bloom is over, but sickened marine mammals aren't safe yet

LOS ANGELES — It was one of the largest, longest and most lethal harmful algae blooms in Southern California's recorded history, claiming the lives of hundreds of dolphins and sea lions between Baja California and the Central Coast. And now, finally, it's over.

Levels of toxic algae species in Southern California coastal waters have declined in recent weeks below thresholds that pose a threat to marine wildlife, according to the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System, or SCCOOS, which monitors algae blooms.

Although this provides a much-needed respite for marine mammals and the people working to save them from neurotoxin poisoning, scientists warned that the coastal ecosystem is not in the clear yet.

Just as January's firestorms struck well outside Southern California's typical fire season, this explosion of harmful algae appeared earlier in the year than have previous blooms. Further outbreaks are still possible before the year is up, said Dave Bader, a marine biologist and the chief operations and education officer for the Marine Mammal Care Center in San Pedro.

—Los Angeles Times

Israeli strikes on alleged drone sites draw Lebanese condemnation

TEL AVIV, Israel — The Israeli Air Force said on Friday it had struck underground facilities used by Hezbollah to manufacture and store drones in the suburbs of Beirut and in southern Lebanon.

Lebanese leaders said the aerial assault undermines the ceasefire agreed to in November after more than a year of cross-border attacks and a ground invasion by Israel.

The Israeli military accused the Lebanese militia of operating "under the direction and with the financial support" of Iranian officials to produce thousands of drones.

The claim, made via the army's Telegram channel, could not be independently verified. The Israeli attack on Thursday evening occurred on the eve of Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant holidays on the Muslim calendar.

—dpa