Trump Threatens Musk Deportation as Spending Bill Feud Escalates

Presidential Clash with Billionaire Tech Mogul Intensifies

President Donald Trump has reignited his feud with Elon Musk, suggesting he might deport the Tesla CEO after Musk criticized the Republican-backed "Big Beautiful Bill." The confrontation escalated when Trump told reporters: "We'll have to take a look" at deporting Musk, adding cryptically: "We might have to put DOGE on Elon."

Spending Bill Sparks Conflict

The conflict began when Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the legislation, calling it a "disgusting abomination" that would increase the national debt by five trillion dollars. The South African-born billionaire, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, accused lawmakers of creating a "Porky Pig Party" filled with constituency-focused spending.

Trump's Retaliation

Trump responded on Truth Social, claiming Musk's opposition stemmed from the bill eliminating electric vehicle mandates. "Elon would have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa," the President wrote. When pressed by reporters about deportation possibilities, Trump referenced the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that Musk previously led.

Musk's Measured Response

The tech billionaire posted a restrained reply on X: "So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now." This came after Musk threatened to fund primary challengers against any Republican supporting the bill, vowing it would be "the last thing I do on this Earth."

Background of Turbulent Alliance

The public clash ends a brief truce between the two powerful figures. Musk contributed over $270 million to Trump's 2024 campaign and Republican causes. Their relationship deteriorated in June when Musk claimed "without me, Trump would have lost the election," prompting Trump to threaten government contract withdrawals. A phone call later led Musk to express regret for "posts that went too far," but the détente proved short-lived.