Washington, D.C.: US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Elon Musk, suggesting that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO may have to “close up shop” and “head back home to South Africa,” as tensions between the two escalate over EV policies and government subsidies.
Trump’s remarks, posted on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, mark a significant escalation in his ongoing feud with Musk. The rift reportedly stems from Musk’s criticism of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” a budget proposal that Musk called a “disgusting abomination” due to its rising deficit and cuts to electric vehicle tax credits.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote.
“It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one. Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and 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,” he continued.
“Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
The DOGE reference alludes to the Department of Government Efficiency, a satirical agency Trump once floated, appointing Musk as its notional head during his earlier tenure.
The Roots of the Fallout
Musk’s fallout with Trump became public in early June after the billionaire sharply criticised the former president’s spending bill, now known as the “OneBigBeautifulBill.” Musk took issue with the bill’s impact on clean energy initiatives, calling it “utterly insane” and accused Trump of backtracking on promises to support technology and innovation.
Following these remarks, Musk floated the idea of launching a third political party, citing public disillusionment with both Republicans and Democrats — a move that did not sit well with Trump’s campaign team.
Tit-for-Tat Allegations
In retaliation, Trump expressed disappointment behind closed doors and later on Truth Social, threatening to cancel federal contracts with Musk’s ventures including Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink. He claimed Musk’s businesses are heavily reliant on government subsidies.
Musk hit back, accusing Trump of ingratitude, stating that his support had been crucial to Trump’s past electoral success.
“Without me, he would’ve lost the election,” Musk reportedly told a media outlet. He even floated impeachment and hinted that SpaceX may decommission NASA’s Dragon spacecraft as leverage.
The feud intensified further when Musk controversially claimed Trump was linked to the Epstein files, a statement he later withdrew, acknowledging no verified evidence existed.
What’s Next?
As the feud plays out in public, the political implications are considerable. Musk holds significant influence among tech-savvy voters and entrepreneurs, while Trump remains a dominant force within the Republican Party. The standoff also risks jeopardising major public-private space and infrastructure programs involving NASA, Pentagon, and energy departments.
Whether this political firestorm dies down or becomes a defining narrative of the 2024 election cycle remains to be seen. For now, the battle between the billionaire innovator and the billionaire populist shows no signs of cooling.