WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has reignited his feud with Elon Musk, suggesting he might deport the billionaire tech mogul to South Africa.
The comment came on July 1, just hours after Trump criticized Musk’s opposition to his tax and budget bill on Truth Social.
Speaking to reporters, Trump hinted at taking action against Musk, saying, “We’ll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon.” Referring to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump added, “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies.”
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, had earlier attacked Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in several posts on X (formerly Twitter), warning that he would fund primary challenges against Republican lawmakers who support the legislation. Musk has voiced concern over the bill’s projected $3.3 trillion addition to the national debt over the next decade.
In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump accused Musk of hypocrisy, saying the billionaire had benefited more from government subsidies than anyone in history. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close shop and head back to South Africa,” Trump wrote.
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Musk quickly hit back on X, saying, “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now,” in response to the subsidies claim.
Trump also claimed Musk opposed the bill because it scraps a Biden-era tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs). Trump reiterated his stance against what he calls the “EV Mandate”—an EPA rule requiring automakers to slash emissions by 2027.
“Elon knew long before endorsing me that I was against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
Musk, originally from South Africa, became a U.S. citizen in 2002 after first securing Canadian citizenship and studying in the U.S. on a visa.
The spat comes just weeks after Musk attempted to repair ties with Trump, even offering a personal apology for his earlier criticisms after resigning from his government post in May.
Musk had briefly led DOGE, a federal department tasked with cutting wasteful government spending, during Trump’s second term.
On June 30, Musk renewed calls for a new political party, slamming Trump’s bill for “insane spending” and branding both major parties the “Porky Pig Party.”
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened to cut off government funding to Musk’s companies. Earlier in June, he warned of ending subsidies amid a public fallout.
Musk’s companies, especially SpaceX, have received billions in US government contracts over the years, including deals with NASA and the Department of Defense.