Did Trump just threaten to deport South Africa-born Musk?
Donald Trump claims that without American subsidies, Pretoria-born tech mogul Elon Musk would have to “head back home.”
US President Donald Trump once again went after former aide Elon Musk on Tuesday, criticising the large amount of government subsidies the entrepreneur receives, after Musk renewed his criticism of the president’s flagship spending bill.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump said on social media.
“And without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Pretoria-born Musk – who had an acrimonious public falling out with the president this month over the bill – reprised his sharp criticisms and renewed his calls for the formation of a new political party as voting got underway.
Trump responded by suggesting that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk led before resigning in late May, focus on investigating the SpaceX founder’s business interests.
“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE,” the president said. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
Trump hopes to seal his legacy with the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which would extend his expiring first-term tax cuts at a cost of $4.5 trillion (R79 trillion) and strengthen border security.
However, Republicans preparing for the 2026 midterm congressional elections remain divided over the package, which would strip health care from millions of the poorest Americans and add more than $3 trillion to the country’s debt.
As lawmakers began voting on the bill on Monday, Musk – the world’s richest person – accused Republicans of supporting “debt slavery.”
“All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America,” he said on social media Tuesday. “What’s the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?”
Musk has vowed to launch a new political party to challenge lawmakers who campaigned on reduced federal spending only to vote for the bill.
“VOX POPULI VOX DEI 80% voted for a new party,” he said.