On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made headlines when he suggested that his administration might have to consider deporting Elon Musk. This unexpected comment came after the billionaire entrepreneur reignited tensions with the president over a controversial spending bill. Musk, originally from South Africa and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, took to social media over the weekend to criticize Republicans for supporting what he termed the "Big Beautiful Bill." He argued that this legislation significantly increased the national debt.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk expressed his discontent with the bill, labeling it as a massive financial burden. He specifically highlighted the record increase of $5 trillion to the debt ceiling, stating, "It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill... that we live in a one-party country: the PORKY PIG PARTY!" This term, often used in political discourse, refers to unnecessary government spending that benefits lawmakers' constituencies.
Following Musk's outburst, Trump took to Truth Social to retaliate. He claimed that Musk was upset about the elimination of the electric vehicle (EV) mandate within the spending bill. Trump suggested that Musk might have to "close up shop" and return to South Africa if he continued his criticism. When pressed by reporters about the possibility of deporting Musk, Trump quipped, "We'll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon," referencing the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk previously led as a special government employee.
In response to Trump's comments, Musk tweeted, "So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now." This statement indicated Musk's awareness of the potential for the situation to escalate further. Later that day, Trump continued to criticize Musk during a visit to Florida, stating, "If DOGE looks at Musk, we're going to save a fortune."
In a more alarming tone, Musk threatened to fund primary challengers against any Republican lawmakers who supported the spending bill, declaring it would be the "last thing I do on this Earth." When asked about Musk's criticisms during an interview with ABC News, Trump reiterated that the issue primarily revolved around the EV mandate, stating, "He should've known I wouldn't do that. I campaigned on those things for two years." Trump emphasized that Musk's expectations were unrealistic and warned him to be cautious, implying that further repercussions could be on the horizon.
The back-and-forth exchange marks the end of a brief period of détente between Trump and Musk, who had previously maintained a cordial relationship. Musk had been vocal about his discontent with government spending, previously labeling another spending bill as a "disgusting abomination" and chastising lawmakers for their votes. He even claimed credit for Trump's electoral success, stating, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election," which he followed with a remark about the president's ingratitude.
Musk has invested over $270 million in support of Trump and other Republican candidates during the current election cycle. However, tensions have escalated, with Trump warning that Musk would face consequences if he chose to fund Democratic candidates. In a surprising twist, Musk later expressed regret for some of his posts about Trump, indicating that their relationship may not be entirely beyond repair. It remains unclear if the two have communicated since Musk's recent comments.
