Trump threatens deportation as feud with Musk reignites
US President Donald Trump says he will “take a look” at deporting Elon Musk as the feud between the two former besties blows up again.
Trump also suggested that DOGE should review subsidies to the wealthy Tesla CEO’s companies to save money.
The war of words reignited after Musk renewed his criticism of Trump’s “big beautiful” bill, which was narrowly passed on Tuesday night (AEST).
The Republican-controlled US Senate passed the tax and spending bill by one vote, with Vice President JD Vance breaking the tie.
The bill now heads back to the House of Representatives for final approval.
The massive package would enshrine many of Trump’s top domestic priorities into law while adding trillions of dollars to American debt.
Musk had spent the day bombarding X with a stream of posts criticising the bill and threatening to campaign against Republicans who voted for it.
Trump then took to Truth Social with his own threats.
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“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,” wrote Trump.
“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!!!,” he said, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency.
Asked later at the White House if he was going to deport Musk, Trump said: “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.”
Trump posted that Musk was upset because he lost the electric vehicle mandate in the recent tax and spending bill and warned the billionaire “could lose a lot more than that”.
In response, Musk said on his own social media platform X, “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”
However, he appeared to restrain himself in response to Trump’s threats, this time stating: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”
Trump had in early June threatened to cut Musk’s government contracts when their relationship erupted into an all-out social media brawl over the tax-cut bill, which non-partisan analysts estimate would add about $US3 trillion ($A4.6 trillion to the US debt.
The rift had resulted in Tesla shares erasing $US150 billion in market value as investors feared a tougher regulatory road for the self-driving robotaxis that underpin much of the company’s valuation.
The stock recovered after Musk walked back some of his jabs, saying he had gone “too far”.
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“Musk cannot stop himself. He is getting on Trump’s bad side again. Tesla international sales have fallen significantly and if he loses US subsidies, US sales are likely to fall as well,” Stock Trader Network chief strategist Dennis Dick, who holds Tesla shares, said.
“Musk needs Trump, Trump does not need Musk.”
Tesla sales have dropped for a sixth straight month in Sweden and Denmark in June, data on Tuesday showed. However, they rose in Norway and Spain during the same month.
Analysts expect the company to report a drop in second-quarter delivery figures on Wednesday.
After weeks of relative silence, Musk rejoined the debate on Saturday as the US Senate took up the package, calling it “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on X.
On Monday, Musk said lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame!”
“They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk said.
He also called again for a new political party, saying the bill’s massive spending indicated “that we live in a one-party country — the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”
The criticism marked a dramatic shift after the billionaire spent nearly $US300 million on Trump’s re-election campaign and led the administration’s DOGE initiative.
Musk has argued that the legislation would greatly increase the country’s debt and erase the savings he says he achieved through DOGE.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back on Musk’s criticism that the bill would balloon the deficit, saying, “I’ll take care of” the country’s finances.
It remains unclear how much sway Musk has over Congress or what effect his opinions might have on the bill’s passage.
But Republicans have expressed concern that his on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.
-with AAP
