Donald Trump recently hinted the White House might “deport” Elon Musk. This came after Musk sharply criticized Trump’s new tax and budget plan. It’s a surprising move against a major tech figure.
Musk started posting strong comments against the big spending bill. He said it would make the country’s debt much worse. He even warned that if the bill passes, he might start a new political group called “The America Party.” This party would challenge Republican lawmakers who vote for the bill. He also said he would back opponents running against those Republicans later on.
Trump quickly fired back. He said, “We might consider deporting Musk.” This is notable since Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002. Trump didn’t stop there. He also suggested using the Department of Justice (DOJ) – which he sometimes calls “DOGE” – to look into Musk’s companies, SpaceX and Starlink. These companies got funding from the last government. Speaking in Florida, Trump added, “DOGE might become the monster that comes back to get Elon… I don’t think he should play games with me.”
Just after Trump’s comments, Tesla’s stock dropped about 5% on Tuesday, July 1st. Before this, Trump had already poked fun at Musk on his Truth Social platform. He wrote, “Elon is probably mad that the new law removes support for electric cars. Without subsidies, he might have to close his company and go back home to South Africa.”
The disagreement between Trump and Musk first began in May. That’s when Musk spoke out against the budget bill. He also pulled back from working with the government. Their fight flared up again when the bill moved forward in Congress.
Musk continues to slam the bill on his X platform. He says it will add to the national debt. He also believes it will hurt America’s chances to lead in electric vehicles and clean energy.
Perhaps the biggest worry for Trump is Musk’s plan to target “soft Republicans” in the 2026 midterm elections. Musk intends to either back his own candidates or provide full financial support to those who oppose this controversial bill.