U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested he might consider deporting South African-born billionaire Elon Musk amid their recent political rift.
While addressing reporters at the White House on Tuesday, President Trump was asked about the possibility of deporting Elon Musk. He responded, “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.
”The tension between the two prominent figures follows Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s flagship legislative proposal, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” especially concerning the move to reduce support for electric vehicles (EVs).
Trump, who previously enjoyed strong support and financial backing from Elon Musk during the 2024 presidential race, appeared visibly irritated by Musk’s recent criticism. He hinted that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could begin reviewing Musk’s access to government subsidies.
“We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump remarked, in what seemed to be a half-joking yet pointed warning.
The president went on to claim that Musk’s discontent was largely due to the removal of electric vehicle–friendly provisions from the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“He’s losing his EV mandate. He’s very upset about things, but he could lose a lot more than that,” Trump said.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, the president further claimed that Elon Musk’s success in the United States has heavily relied on government subsidies.
“Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump wrote.
Musk, currently the world’s richest man and founder of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, had previously maintained a close alliance with Trump and even served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before resigning in May.
However, their relationship began to sour after Musk accused Trump and the Republican Party of retreating from leadership in clean energy and the advancement of electric vehicles.
In response to the proposed spending bill, Musk has hinted at launching a new political movement—the “America Party”—if the controversial legislation is passed.
