The bitter feud between US President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk reignited on Tuesday, with Trump threatening to deport the billionaire and cut federal funding to his businesses after Musk criticized the president’s major spending bill.
Musk, who was Trump’s largest political donor in the 2024 election and served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the initial months of Trump’s second term, is now threatening to use his wealth against Trump by considering the formation of a rival political party.
This new party would challenge Republican lawmakers who support Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Trump, 78, responded aggressively on Tuesday. When asked by reporters if he would consider deporting Musk, who gained US citizenship in 2002, Trump stated, “We’ll have to take a look.”
In response to a post on his X social network detailing Trump’s deportation comments, Musk cryptically replied, “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”
The president also indicated that he might target the substantial contracts and subsidies that Musk’s Space X rocket and Starlink satellite internet ventures receive from the US government.
“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 warned.
Following Trump’s threats, shares of Tesla fell by over six percent early Tuesday.
Trump further intensified his remarks, suggesting that Musk was attacking his bill because he was upset over the removal of measures supporting the electric vehicles (EV) industry.
“He’s losing his EV mandate. He’s very upset about things, but you know, he could lose a lot more than that, I can tell you right now. Elon can lose a lot more than that,” Trump asserted.
On his Truth Social network late Monday, Trump had previously stated that “without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.” He added, “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!!!”
The tycoon and the president had shared a brief but intense “bromance” after Trump’s return to power in January, with Musk frequently seen alongside Trump wearing MAGA hats.
Trump had reciprocated by promoting Tesla electric vehicles when they were targeted by protesters amidst Musk’s cost-cutting measures at DOGE.
However, their relationship publicly soured in May when Musk criticized the spending bill and subsequently left the government.
After maintaining a low profile for several weeks, Musk re-entered the public fray as the bill began its difficult passage through Congress, posting a steady stream of criticisms against it on X.
His core arguments center on claims that the bill would increase the US deficit and that Republicans have abandoned efforts to position the United States at the forefront of the EV and clean energy revolution. “All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America,” he posted on social media Tuesday, accusing Republicans of supporting “debt slavery.”
More concerning for Trump is Musk’s strategy to target vulnerable Republican lawmakers ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.
Musk has announced plans to establish his own political movement, the “America Party,” if Trump’s bill passes, and has pledged to fund challengers against lawmakers who campaigned on reduced federal spending but vote for the bill.
After polling the idea on X, he declared, “VOX POPULI VOX DEI 80% voted for a new party.”
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