Elon Musk has called President Donald Trump‘s comments about him “so disappointing.”
The Musk-Trump feud reignited over the president’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX sees as an unacceptable multi-trillion-dollar expansion of the federal debt. Musk touted forming a new “America Party.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump took aim at Musk for the subsidies his companies have received, particularly for electric vehicles. Trump said without them, Musk would “probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Trump had also said “we’ll have to look” when asked if he would consider deporting Musk.
Responding to Trump’s remark, Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Just plain wrong. So disappointing.” Musk became a naturalized U.S. citizen more than two decades ago.
Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House in May, and President Donald Trump speaking at a new migrant detention facility in Florida on Tuesday. Elon Musk in the Oval Office of the White House in May, and President Donald Trump speaking at a new migrant detention facility in Florida on Tuesday. Evan Vucci/AP
Why It Matters
Musk was one of the most prominent supporters of Trump’s 2024 presidential election campaign, spending more than $196 million to support his bid, according to NBC News.
But he has been deeply critical of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a major tax and spending package that passed the Senate on Tuesday due to Vice-President Vance’s tie breaking vote. It will now head back to the House.
Musk described the bill as “political suicide” and “utterly insane and destructive,” adding on X: “It gives handouts to industries of the past, while severely damaging industries of the future.”
The package would raise the U.S. debt ceiling by $5 trillion, impose large tax cuts and increase spending on border security and defense. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it would add $3.3 trillion to U.S. fiscal deficits over the next decade. The bill also reduces health insurance and food subsidies for some lower income households.
What To Know
In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump took aim at Musk for the subsidies his companies have received, and suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – which Musk previously ran – could investigate this.
“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,” he said.
“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. 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!!!”
Dalton Brewer, a Tesla owner from Minnesota shared a screenshot of Trump’s remark on X, adding: “This is actually one of the dumbest posts I’ve seen Trump make. I could say a lot more, but I’ll leave it at that. Very disappointed.”
Musk then replied: “Just plain wrong. So disappointing.”
Musk has criticized raising the debt ceiling, arguing that it contradicts his efforts to cut government spending while he was at DOGE between January and May.
On July 1, he wrote on X: “What’s the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?” He added: “All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America.”
