In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing feud, President Donald Trump suggested he might consider deporting Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, back to his native South Africa. This proclamation came following Musk’s vocal criticism of Trump’s tax and budget bill, which has sparked significant debate in the Senate.
During a press briefing on July 1, Trump responded to inquiries about Musk’s recent remarks by saying, “We’ll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies.”
Trump’s comments followed a post he made on Truth Social earlier that morning, where he hinted that the Department of Government Efficiency, a body Musk previously led, might review the substantial government contracts Musk’s companies receive. According to Trump, “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Musk, who has been openly critical of the proposed legislation, countered Trump’s statements with a post on X (formerly Twitter) just half an hour after Trump’s initial comments. “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now,” Musk wrote, reflecting his opposition to the bill’s projected increase of the national debt by $3.3 trillion over the next decade.
Trump attributed Musk’s opposition to the legislation to the fact that it would terminate a consumer tax credit program for electric vehicle buyers initiated during the Biden administration. He accused Musk of being upset over the planned end of the “EV Mandate,” which was a point of contention during Trump’s presidency.
Musk, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, has received approximately $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits for his various companies over the past two decades. This financial support has often been crucial to the growth and success of SpaceX and Tesla, leading Trump to question Musk’s reliance on government aid.
This public spate between Trump and Musk occurs after a brief attempt at reconciliation, where Musk had personally apologized to Trump for previous criticisms. Their relationship has been characterized by fluctuations, with Musk having played a significant role as a top advisor during Trump’s first term before departing to focus on his business ventures.
In a separate June 30 post, Musk urged for the creation of a new political party, criticizing the current state of government spending and accusing it of functioning as a “one-party country” driven by excessive expenditures. As their tit-for-tat continues, the implications for future political and business relations remain to be seen, particularly as Musk navigates his significant influence within the tech sector and Trump’s ongoing political aspirations.