Trump Threatens Deportation of Elon Musk Amid Feud Over Tax Bill and Government Subsidies
- Rahaman Hadisur
- Jul 2
- 3 min read
Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff
H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA
President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his public feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk on Monday, floating the idea of deporting the SpaceX and Tesla CEO amid growing tensions over the administration’s latest tax and budget legislation.
Speaking to reporters outside the White House on July 1, Trump said his administration might "take a look" at Musk’s immigration status, referencing Musk’s South African origins. “We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” Trump said, using the acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, which Musk previously led during Trump’s second term. “You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies.”
The comments came just hours after Trump posted a fiery message on Truth Social at 12:34 a.m., attacking Musk for his opposition to what the president has called a "big, beautiful bill." Trump accused Musk of hypocrisy for criticizing the bill while benefiting from what he claimed were “record levels of government support.”
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history,” Trump wrote. “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. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, quickly fired back in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”
Musk’s criticism has centered on the bill’s projected addition of $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. In his recent posts, Musk has accused the Republican Party of betraying its principles of fiscal responsibility, even going so far as to suggest the formation of a new “Porky Pig Party” to challenge what he described as wasteful governance.
Musk’s comments have drawn particular ire from Trump, who accused him of being motivated by self-interest. “Elon is very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated,” Trump said, referring to his executive action to end an Environmental Protection Agency rule that required automakers to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in vehicles by 2027.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump said. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
This latest clash marks a stark shift in the Trump-Musk relationship. Musk previously served as the head of DOGE, a federal oversight department aimed at eliminating wasteful spending. He stepped down in late May, just four months into Trump's second term, to focus on his private ventures. Sources say Musk had recently attempted to mend relations with the president, including issuing a personal apology for remarks made during his departure from the administration.
Despite those efforts, tensions flared again last week when Musk reiterated his opposition to the administration's fiscal agenda and pledged to support primary challenges against Republicans who vote for the bill.
Trump, in turn, has revived threats made earlier in June to cancel federal contracts and subsidies benefiting Musk’s companies. According to a Washington Post investigation, Musk’s businesses primarily SpaceX and Tesla have received at least $38 billion in federal funding through contracts, subsidies, loans, and tax credits over the past two decades.
As the Senate enters its fourth day of debate on the bill, the feud between two of the most powerful figures in American politics and business appears far from over.
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