The ongoing feud between the former U.S. President Donald Trump and tech magnate Elon Musk has taken a fresh, dramatic turn, with threats flying, political shots fired, and billions in government subsidies suddenly in the spotlight.
During a fiery appearance on Fox News early Tuesday, Trump didn’t hold back, hinting that he’s weighing the possibility of deporting Musk, who was born in South Africa. This comes on the heels of Musk’s sharp criticism of Trump’s flagship legislative proposal, the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk, on his social platform X, said he’s holding off on escalating matters, for now.
Trump took to Truth Social on Monday night to launch a blistering attack, accusing Musk of biting the hand that feeds him. Trump slammed Musk’s support for electric vehicles while reminding the SpaceX and Tesla boss just how much he owes to U.S. taxpayers.
“Elon might have pocketed more government cash than anyone in history. Without those subsidies, he’d probably have to pack up and head back to South Africa,” Trump wrote. He also floated the idea of halting Musk’s rocket launches, satellite projects, and EV production, claiming this would save the U.S. a fortune. Trump hinted it was time for DOGE (likely referring to the Department of Government Expenditure) to scrutinise Musk’s operations.
Musk’s critique of Trump’s bill has been relentless. Over the weekend, he warned that the legislation would deliver a devastating blow to American jobs and give unfair advantages to outdated industries, at the expense of future innovation. He even hinted at starting a new political party, distancing himself from what he mockingly dubbed the “Porky Pig Party.”
Musk didn’t stop there. He accused supporters of the bill of misleading the public about its fiscal impact, claiming it would balloon the national deficit by $5 trillion. As always, he added a touch of showmanship, posting an image of Pinocchio with his pants ablaze.
This isn’t the first time these two giants have clashed. Their recent social media spats began when Musk distanced himself from Trump’s policies, prompting Trump to threaten Musk’s government funding. Though Trump previously claimed he wasn’t focused on Musk, this latest showdown suggests otherwise.
With tensions rising and both sides trading barbs, the Trump-Musk saga is far from over.
