President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to revoke federal subsidies and suggested he would consider deporting Elon Musk, reigniting a high-profile feud with the billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO over opposition to the administration's $4.5 trillion tax-and-spending bill.
"We'll have to take a look," Trump said when asked whether he would seek to deport Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from South Africa. "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."
The comments came hours after Trump lashed out on Truth Social at 12:34 a.m., accusing Musk of being the "most subsidized human being in history," and suggesting the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE-a Trump-era agency once led by Musk-should investigate federal contracts awarded to Musk's companies. "No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE," Trump wrote. "Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!"
Musk responded shortly after, posting on X: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now."
The rupture follows Musk's renewed attacks on Trump's marquee legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is currently under Senate debate. Musk posted that lawmakers who back the bill "will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth." He added, "If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day."
Musk also launched personal barbs, branding the GOP and Democratic alliance "the PORKY PIG PARTY!!" and threatening to launch a new political party. He said in another post: "Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people."
Tensions have flared repeatedly between Trump and Musk, who served as an unpaid government advisor and led DOGE during the early months of Trump's second term. The agency, originally tasked with rooting out federal waste, became a powerful vehicle for slashing budgets, including the near-elimination of USAID. Musk stepped down from his government role in May to focus on his business ventures.
Trump has claimed Musk's opposition to the bill is driven by anger over the administration's decision to terminate electric vehicle subsidies and emission mandates. "Elon is very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated," Trump told reporters. "But you know, he could lose a lot more than that."
Musk has argued that his resistance stems from the bill's projected $3.3 trillion addition to the national debt. He circulated memes on X accusing Republican lawmakers of breaking their campaign promises, posting: "Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending" and voted for the bill "is a LIAR."
Tesla shares fell 6% in premarket trading Tuesday, as investors weighed the implications of a federal backlash against Musk's enterprises. SpaceX and Tesla have together received an estimated $38 billion in federal contracts, subsidies, and loans over the past two decades, according to a Washington Post analysis.
The standoff came just weeks after Musk appeared to mend relations with Trump, offering a public apology for comments made during his departure from the administration. But following this week's barrage, Trump warned, "I don't think he should be playing that game with me."
Musk, in response to video of Trump's deportation remark, wrote, "So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now," adding cryptically: "Physics sees through all lies perfectly."
The president's threats have rattled GOP lawmakers, some of whom Musk has praised in recent posts. He boosted statements by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., both vocal critics of the legislation, despite past tensions with Trump. "Folks, Elon Musk is 100% right," Tillis posted.
Trump had previously called Massie a "Third Rate Congressman" and threatened to primary him, highlighting the growing rift within the Republican Party over fiscal priorities and loyalty to the administration.
