The simmering tensions between US President Donald Trump and world richest person and X owner Elon Musk erupted publicly on Tuesday, with Trump threatening to revoke federal support for Musk’s companies and even raising the possibility of deporting him.
Once political allies, the two men have now found themselves on opposing sides of a growing feud sparked by Trump’s ambitious spending proposal, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk, a former top donor to Trump’s 2024 campaign and once the head of the short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the legislation.
What did Trump say about Elon Musk?
During a media stop at the launch of a controversial migrant facility in Florida, unofficially nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz,” Trump was asked if he would consider deporting Elon Musk, who has held US citizenship for over two decades.
“We will have to take a look,” Trump responded, before going on to accuse Musk of disloyalty and hinting that federal subsidies and contracts awarded to SpaceX and Starlink may be reconsidered. “Doge is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Would not that be terrible?” Trump asked reporters.
Tesla’s stock dipped by roughly five per cent following the exchange, raising concerns among investors about the potential fallout from a full-scale political war between two of the country’s most high-profile figures.
Earlier this week, Trump suggested that Musk’s opposition to the spending bill stemmed from his frustration over the removal of certain EV-related incentives. “Without government support, Elon might just have to pack up and return to South Africa,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
The fallout between the former allies marks a sharp turn from just months ago when Elon Musk was a regular presence at Trump’s side, both men donning MAGA hats and appearing in sync on energy and tech policy. Their falling-out became public in May, after Musk walked away from his role in DOGE and began openly attacking Trump’s bill.
As the “One Big Beautiful Bill” faces an uphill battle in Congress, Trump now finds himself contending not just with Democratic resistance, but with a high-profile defection from within his own base.
