Trump Threatens Elon Musk with Deportation as Feud Over Budget Bill Escalates
Trump Threatens Elon Musk with Deportation as Feud Over Budget Bill Escalates
The feud between the U.S. President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk escalated on Tuesday, with Trump suggesting he might consider deporting Musk and questioning the extensive government support Musk’s companies receive. When asked by reporters if he would look into deporting the billionaire entrepreneur, Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.” He also hinted at a possible review of the substantial contracts and subsidies granted to Musk’s ventures, including SpaceX and Starlink.
Musk responded to Trump’s remarks on his social media platform X, stating, “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now,” indicating restraint amid rising tensions. The statement came in reaction to a video clip of Trump’s comments.
Trump made the remarks while heading to inaugurate a new migrant detention facility in Florida, dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Referring to Musk in Florida, he quipped, “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 later added, “I don’t think he should be playing that game with me.”
The clash intensified after Trump’s comments a day earlier, when he claimed Musk should “close up shop and move back to South Africa.” On his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Elon may get more subsidies than any human in history, by far. Without those subsidies, he’d probably have to pack up and return to South Africa.”
The dispute initially erupted in early June after Musk harshly criticized Trump’s economic proposal, known as the “Big Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” due to its projected impact on the federal deficit and its cuts to electric vehicle tax incentives.
Musk, who had remained relatively quiet recently, re-entered the political discourse as Trump’s bill advanced through Congress. He has used his X account to consistently oppose the bill, arguing it would worsen the national deficit and undermine the U.S. leadership in electric vehicles and clean energy innovation.
Following Trump’s threats, Tesla’s stock dropped by about five percent on Tuesday, signaling investor concern amid the high-profile clash.