President Donald Trump has escalated his feud with Elon Musk, suggesting he may consider deporting the billionaire Tesla and SpaceX founder back to South Africa as their once-close relationship turns increasingly bitter.
Trump Says He May "Take a Look" at Deporting Musk
Speaking to the Daily Mail on Tuesday (July 1), Trump was asked directly whether he would consider deporting Musk, who was born in South Africa and is a naturalized American citizen.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look,” Trump told the publication.
The president added a cryptic warning, referencing the cryptocurrency Dogecoin and his own former government efficiency unit, DOGE.
“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,” Trump said.
Fallout Over Trump’s "Big, Beautiful Bill"
The tension between the two men, who were once allies and often photographed together during the first few months of Trump's second term, flared after Musk became a vocal critic of the POTUS' "big, beautiful bill," a massive spending and policy package seen as central to Trump’s agenda.
Their fallout led to a heated exchange on and off social media, with of the most explosive claims coming when Musk alleged that Trump appears in classified government documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Musk also slammed the bill for cutting electronic vehicle subsidies while increasing the national deficit.
The president shrugged off Musk’s complaints, telling The Mail: “He could lose a lot more than that. Elon could lose a lot more than that.”
Trump emphasized that Musk knew from the start that the administration would not implement an electric vehicle mandate.
“Elon is not getting his mandate. He wanted an electric mandate and he should have known. I wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t do that. I campaigned to this thing for two years. I never understand why he did what he did, but he’s not going to get his mandate and he better be careful. He might not get anything else.”
"No More Rocket Launches" Without Subsidies, Trump Warns
On Truth Social, Trump continued his criticism, saying: “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.”
The president also warned Musk could lose substantial government support if his subsidies were removed.
“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. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.”
Trump concluded: “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk Threatens to Form New Political Party
In response to the spending bill and Trump’s remarks, Musk lashed out on X, threatening to form a new “America Party” to challenge both Republicans and Democrats.
“If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,” Musk posted, calling for an alternative to the “Democrat-Republican uniparty.”
He added that if lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but supported the bill did not change course: “They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
Musk added that the bill’s massive spending proved “that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”
Musk labeled the bill “utterly insane” and “political suicide,” warning it would damage America’s strategic future while propping up outdated industries.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Musk wrote.
The Tesla boss also shared a tweet originally penned by entrepreneur Mario Nawfal, which read: "Elon’s opposition to the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ has never been about its removal of EV tax credits or the EV mandate, it’s simply about his passionate opposition to rising government debt.
"He knew at the time he endorsed Trump that the mandates would be going, and he’s said repeatedly in the past that the EV subsidy should end."
A Former Alliance Now in Public Feud
The feud marks a sharp departure from earlier this year when Trump and Musk appeared alongside each other on the South Lawn of the White House, with Trump even purchasing a red Tesla to demonstrate support for Musk’s work.
Musk had contributed nearly $300 million to Republican candidates during the last election cycle, playing a significant role in Trump’s 2024 re-election efforts.
Their relationship began to unravel after Musk left his post in Trump’s administration and publicly opposed the “big, beautiful bill.” The disagreement has since spilled onto social media, with the two powerful figures now trading jabs as debates over subsidies, electric vehicle mandates, and federal spending heat up.