Trump just threatened to send billionaire Elon Musk “back to South Africa” for daring to criticize his legislative agenda, exposing how quickly the President will turn on even his most powerful allies when they step out of line.
At a Glance
- President Trump has threatened to potentially deport naturalized citizen Elon Musk over his opposition to a major tax-and-spending bill.
- The feud ignited after Musk called the bill a “disgusting abomination” that would add trillions to the national debt.
- Trump suggested the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an agency Musk briefly led—could be used to investigate the subsidies Musk’s companies receive.
- The clash exposes a deep rift on the political right and raises alarms about the weaponization of government power against political critics.
From Bromance to Breakup
The political alliance between President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk has spectacularly imploded, culminating in Trump suggesting he might try to deport the naturalized American citizen back to his native South Africa. The feud is a stark illustration of how loyalty works in Trump’s world: it’s a one-way street, and the moment you step out of line, you become an enemy of the state.
The conflict ignited after Musk launched a fierce public attack on Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a massive legislative package that would make the 2017 tax cuts permanent but also raise the national debt ceiling. Musk, who briefly served as the head of Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called the bill a “disgusting abomination” and threatened to start a new political party if it passes.
Weaponizing the Government
Trump, who does not tolerate dissent, responded with a barrage of threats. He dismissed Musk’s concerns about the national debt and claimed the billionaire was only upset because the bill would cut electric vehicle subsidies. Then, he openly threatened to use the power of the federal government against Musk’s companies.
“DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump told reporters, according to Politico. “Wouldn’t that be terrible?”
A Threat of Deportation
Perhaps most alarmingly, when asked by a reporter if he would consider deporting Musk, who has been a U.S. citizen for over 20 years, Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.” The comment from the President of the United States—suggesting that citizenship could be revoked over a political disagreement—sets a dangerous and chilling precedent.
In a reply to a post on X featuring #US President Donald Trump’s deportation comments, billionaire Elon Musk says: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”https://t.co/KWE2HFDxsQ
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) July 1, 2025
“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 added in the interview, reported by USA Today.
The feud reveals a deep and growing rift on the American right between Trump’s populist agenda and the more fiscally conservative, libertarian wing represented by Musk. But beyond the policy debate, the use of presidential threats to suggest weaponizing federal agencies and immigration law against a political critic should alarm every American who believes in the principles of free speech and limited government.
