In an escalation of the war of words with his onetime close ally Elon Musk, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would look into deporting Musk as their feud reignited over a Republican-backed spending bill.
Asked if he was going to deport Musk, a naturalised US citizen, Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday: “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.”
Trump’s remarks came after the Tesla CEO launched a scathing attack on the spending bill and pledged to launch a new political party if it is approved by Congress.
US President Donald Trump also threatened to cut off the billions of dollars in subsidies that Elon Musk’s companies receive from the federal government.
Trump suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should review the subsidies for Musk’s companies.
“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,” he said.
Elon is “very upset” because he lost the mandate for electric vehicles, Trump said, adding that the billionaire “could lose a lot more than that.”
Meanwhile, Trump claimed the billionaire would “head back home to South Africa” if federal subsidies on electric vehicles are cut.
“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,” Trump wrote on social media.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,” Trump said.
No US legislation forces people to own electric vehicles, but credits encourage buying the more environmentally friendly vehicles.
“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” Trump added in his post, taking aim at Musk’s lucrative SpaceX contracts with the US government.
In response to Trump’s threats, Musk said on his own social media platform X, “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.” He later added that he could escalate the exchange with Trump but said, “I will refrain for now.”
The relationship between Trump and Musk, once marked by collaboration and mutual support, has deteriorated into a highly public and acrimonious feud since Musk started criticising the bill in late May.
