US President Donald Trump has said he will consider deporting Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, amid an escalating feud between the two once close aides.
Daily Mail correspondent Emily Goodin posted on X that she asked Trump if he planned to deport Musk, to which the president replied: “We’ll have to look into it.”
In a later address to reporters, Trump added: “I don’t know. We’ll have to see. We might have to send DOGE at Elon. Do you know what DOGE is? DOGE is a monster that might have to come back and eat Elon.”
The unusual comment comes amid serious political and financial tensions. Trump has been sharply critical of Musk in recent days over his criticism of the sweeping tax cuts and spending bill, which is currently being considered by the US Senate.
“Maybe we should ask DOGE to take a hard look at the subsidies Musk’s companies have received. Elon has probably received more subsidies than any man in history. Without the subsidies, Elon would probably have to close his company and go back to South Africa. No more rockets, no more satellites, no more electric cars. Our country would save a fortune!” Trump tweeted on his Truth Social platform.
DOGE, short for “Department of Government Efficiency,” is a controversial federal program that Musk himself once led, which was supposedly intended to cut government spending. However, Trump now claims that the department should investigate whether Musk’s companies, such as Tesla and SpaceX, have received excessive government subsidies.
Musk reacted fiercely to the law on Saturday, after weeks of silence, calling it “completely crazy and destructive” and calling for the formation of a new political party. “We live in a one-party state – the Porky Pig Party!” Musk wrote on X.
The heated exchange between Trump and Musk comes despite the fact that Musk has invested nearly $300 million in Trump’s campaign and played a key role in implementing the DOGE initiative. Now, their alliance is turning into an open conflict.
Trump further warned that Musk could “lose a lot more” if he continues to criticize. “Without government support, there would be no self-driving taxis, no space launches,” Trump said.
Tesla shares have already felt the effects, falling more than six percent before the market opened, and analysts warn that Trump’s threat to cut subsidies could seriously jeopardize Musk’s business ambitions.
Trump wants the bill passed before July 4, Independence Day, despite estimates that it could increase the US national debt by an additional $3.3 trillion.
