ABC — President Donald Trump told reporters Tuesday his administration will "have to take a look" at deporting Elon Musk after the billionaire reignited the feud with the president over his spending bill.
Musk, a South African national and a naturalized U.S. citizen, made several weekend X posts slamming Republicans over the "Big Beautiful Bill," arguing that it was adding more debt.
"It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!," Musk posted Monday afternoon.
Trump pushed back with a Truth Social post early Tuesday, claiming Tesla CEO Musk was upset about the bill eliminating the electric vehicle (EV) mandate and that "Elon would have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa."
When asked by reporters later in the morning if he would deport Musk, Trump said, "We'll have to take a look."
"We might have to put DOGE on Elon," he said, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk previously spearheaded as a special government employee.
Musk posted his response to Trump's Tuesday morning comments on X.
"So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now," Musk wrote.
Trump continued to hammer Musk later in the day as he visited Florida.
"If DOGE looks at Musk, we're going to save a fortune," he told reporters.
On Monday, Musk threatened to fund primary challengers of any Republican who voted on the bill "if it is the last thing I do on this Earth."
When asked by ABC News about Musk's criticism, the president reiterated that it was about the EV mandate.
"He should've known I wouldn't do that, I couldn't do that. I campaigned on those things for two years. I never understand why he did what he did, but he's not going to get his mandate, and he better be careful, because he might not get anything else. You know what that means, right?" he said.
Musk continued to slam the bill on his social media platform, reposting other users who shared his opinion of the legislation with memes and claims that it would contribute to the debt and waste.
The war of words marked an end to a two and a half week detente between the president and Musk.
Last month, Musk, who had just left his role in the White House, went to X to criticize the spending bill and House Republicans who approved it.
"This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination," he wrote on June 3. "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Musk kept up his criticism and then turned his attention to the president, posting, "Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate."
"Such ingratitude," he added. Musk spent more than $270 million to back Trump and other Republicans during the 2024 election cycle.
Trump took to Truth Social, contending that Musk was upset with the EV mandate removal from the bill and threatened to pull the billionaire's government contracts.
Posted by External-Noise-4832
12 Comments
Dude’s a clown. He’s mad because of what he said about being in the Epstein files and because people are waking up to his bullshit included in the ‘’big beautiful bill’’ and other shit.
What about his wife? 😂
Wait I thought musk was a nazi? Y’all can’t make your minds up.
No, he won’t.
Wouldn’t that be a disgusting abuse of power? You can’t deport someone just because they disagree with you
I know politics is fake and they’re all in 1 big club, but Musk is more MAGA than Trump and his sheeple. Who would have had that on their bing card 4 years ago ?
Do it Diaper Donny!!!!
Musk stopped being useful and is now a liability to the GOP.
Why would anyone work with Trump? He betrays everyone as soon as they aren’t useful.
Trump would deport his mother back to Scotland if he could
No one gives a shit about 2 clowns trying to one up each other lol
This is so stupid, Trump’s out here selling visas for 5 million. Are you seriously saying the richest man on the planet wouldn’t buy one?
Two actors, acting.
The world’s is a stage ladies and gentlemen ✌️