As tensions between President Donald Trump and tech mogul Elon Musk rise over the administration's prized spending bill proposal—the "One Big Beautiful Bill"—Trump has sent a sharp warning to his former adviser, indicating that the government might withdraw financial backing from Musk's ventures.
The President hinted that in the absence of these federal subsidies, Musk could have to close up shop and head back to his home country of South Africa.
Musk did not wait, however. On X (formerly Twitter), the Tesla and SpaceX CEO challenged Trump to go ahead and slash the aid. "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now," Musk announced.
After being a close friend of Trump, Musk had earlier headed the White House's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before resigning in May. The two have since been embroiled in a very public feud, mainly over Trump's unpopular multi-trillion-dollar spending bill. As the Senate moved to vote on the bill on Monday, Musk upped his attacks and restated his call for a new political party.
Trump attacked Musk's opposition, claiming that the billionaire's companies would not be able to survive in the U.S. without government support.
"Elon Musk knew, a long time before he so forcefully Endorsed me for President, that I was opposed to the EV Mandate. It's crazy, and was always a big part of my campaign. Electric vehicles are okay, but not everybody should have to own one," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
"Elon might receive more subsidy than any human being ever, by far, and without subsidies, Elon might have to shut up shop and go back home to South Africa," he said.
Trump went on to imply that DOGE—the government agency Musk once led—ought to investigate the mogul's vast conglomerate, focusing in on his space and car businesses.
"No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Maybe we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED," Trump tweeted.
The President has staked his legacy on the ambitious "One Big Beautiful Bill," which would continue his last term's tax cuts—estimated to cost $4.5 trillion—and increase border security. Yet the bill has split Republicans before the 2026 midterm elections, with critics complaining that it would cut millions of poor Americans from healthcare coverage and cost more than $3 trillion over the next decade.
As legislators convened to cast ballots, Musk—the richest person on the planet—accused Republicans of being fiscally irresponsible.
"All I'm saying is let's not bankrupt America," Musk tweeted Tuesday. "What's the point of a debt ceiling if we just raise it?"
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