President Donald Trump threatened to deport Elon Musk to South Africa while speaking to reporters on 1 Jul 2025.
The threat came after the billionaire tech entrepreneur criticized Trump’s tax and budget bill.
Trump Issues Deportation Warning to Musk After DOGE Criticism
Trump made the statement as he headed to a new migrant detention centre in Florida called “Alligator Alcatraz”.
“We’ll have to take a look,” Trump said when asked if he would deport Musk. “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. Wouldn’t that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies.”
Trump also posted on Truth Social earlier that morning. He wrote that he might order the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review the billions in contracts that Musk’s companies receive.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump wrote. “No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
A Washington Post analysis found that Musk and his businesses have received at least US$38 billion (~S$48.4 billion) in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits.
Musk Responds with Escalation Warning After Spending Bill Dispute
Musk responded to Trump’s threat about 30 minutes later on X. He wrote: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO later posted another message about the escalating feud. “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now,” Musk wrote on X.
Musk had resumed voicing opposition against Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in several posts on X on 30 Jun 2025. The bill entered a fourth day of debate in the Senate and was approved by the Senate on Tuesday.
Musk opposed the bill because it was projected to raise the national debt by US$3.3 trillion (~S$4.2 trillion) over the next decade. He warned that he would try to defeat Republican lawmakers who vote for the legislation by boosting midterm primary challenges against them.
The rift widened as Musk wrote in another 30 Jun X post that he was considering creating a new political party. He wrote: “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!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
Background of Trump-Musk Alliance and Current Tensions
Musk was Trump’s biggest political donor in the 2024 election. The two became close allies during Trump’s initial months back in the White House.
Musk previously led DOGE for four months before leaving his position in May 2025. Since leaving DOGE, he had been threatening to turn his wealth against Trump.
Trump claimed Musk’s opposition stems from legislation that would end a programme under former President Joe Biden. The programme offered consumer tax credits to buy electric vehicles.
Trump took executive action on his first day in office to end an Environmental Protection Agency rule. The rule required auto manufacturers to begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions in new light- and medium-duty vehicles starting in 2027, with a target of about a 50% reduction by 2032.
Trump referred to it as the “electric vehicle mandate”. He wrote on social media: “Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
Trump also said: “I don’t think he should be playing that game with me.”
Musk was born in South Africa and gained Canadian citizenship through his mother. He obtained an exchange visa to study in the United States, then got a work visa. He became a naturalised US citizen in 2002.
Musk had apologised just two weeks ago for insults he made during his falling out with and exit from the Trump administration in June.
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