Trump and Musk are back in the spotlight as their feud intensifies over subsidies and spending. US President Donald Trump suggested Elon Musk could face deportation following the billionaire’s strong criticism of a proposed $4 trillion tax and spending bill. When asked if he is considering deportation, Trump responded, “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.”
Trump also hinted that DOGE, or the Department of Government Efficiency, would investigate government support provided to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. “We might have to put DOGE on Elon… He gets a lot of subsidies. But Elon is very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated,” Trump said.
Musk replied with caution: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”
Trump and Musk Fallout
The Trump and Musk conflict worsened after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill includes major spending changes, which Musk claims will deepen national debt and hurt the economy.
Musk previously supported Trump’s re-election and contributed to his campaign. But their relationship has changed as Trump pushes to remove electric vehicle subsidies, a move that would hurt Tesla and other Musk-led companies.
On Truth Social, Trump posted: “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history… without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Musk has since hinted he might support challengers to lawmakers backing the bill and is even considering helping launch a third political party in the US.
Can Musk Be Deported?
Elon Musk has been a US citizen since 2002, after moving from South Africa and studying at the University of Pennsylvania. While the government can revoke naturalized citizenship through a process called denaturalisation, it only applies in cases of fraud. No such claims exist against Musk.
Despite Trump’s remarks, legal experts say he has no authority to deport a US citizen without due process. The Trump and Musk clash may now shift into legal and political territory, especially with election season nearing.