The feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk has reached new heights, with the president publicly warning that Musk may be expelled from the United States following a series of contentious remarks regarding a massive spending bill.The tensions between the two former allies escalated over Musk’s criticism of the legislation, which is expected to significantly increase the national debt.In a remarkable turn of events, President Trump has suggested that Musk might have to return to his home country of South Africa, despite Musk’s status as a naturalized American citizen.
Musk, calling the bill “big and beautiful,” warned that it would only serve to inflate the national debt and jeopardize the economic future of the United States. His comments quickly drew the ire of Trump, who retaliated by suggesting that Musk could be forced to return to South Africa if his criticism continued.Trump’s statement on Truth Social on July 1st was a sharp rebuke. He wrote, “Elon may have to shut down and return to South Africa,” a remark that some saw as a veiled threat of expulsion. When asked by reporters if this meant he was considering deportation for Musk, Trump replied, “We will have to consider it.” This sparked further debate about the future of Musk’s relationship with the U.S. government, especially given his immense influence in both the tech industry and political circles.In a striking move, Trump suggested that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative Musk had previously led, could be used to investigate Musk’s actions and impose consequences.
Musk, who had once been a close ally of Trump, responded by downplaying the confrontation, stating he would “refrain from escalating the situation” on X. However, the situation was far from resolved, with Trump continuing to attack Musk publicly during a visit to Florida later that day.Trump’s frustrations with Musk seemed to stem from a combination of factors. Beyond the spending bill, the two had a complicated history. Musk had made significant financial contributions to Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign, donating over $270 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates.However, as Trump’s spending bill progressed, Musk’s criticism became more vocal, revealing deep rifts between the two figures. Musk was not only concerned about the bill’s potential to increase the national deficit but also about how the legislation would affect Tesla, his electric vehicle company.Musk had previously lobbied for electric vehicle mandates, which were eliminated in the new bill, adding fuel to the fire of his frustrations.
In an interview on July 1st, Trump reaffirmed his stance that Musk’s anger was due to the elimination of the electric vehicle mandate, which he believed was a direct threat to Tesla’s future.Trump stated, “Musk should know I couldn’t keep that provision. I campaigned on this for two years, and I don’t understand why he’s acting this way.” He also warned that if Musk continued to fund Democratic candidates, there would be serious consequences.”If Elon funds the Democrats, he will face repercussions,” Trump warned, reinforcing the tension between them. The two had been allies in the past, with Musk being one of Trump’s most high-profile supporters during the 2016 election.However, their relationship has soured over time, particularly as Musk’s political views have evolved. While Trump has always supported a deregulatory agenda that aligns with Musk’s business interests, Musk has grown increasingly disillusioned with the political establishment, particularly with the way the spending bill was handled.
Musk’s decision to donate to Republican campaigns, including Trump’s, had once been seen as a symbol of alignment, but now, it appears to be a point of contention.Musk’s growing discontent with the spending bill also led to his promise to take action against Republican lawmakers who supported the bill. In a direct challenge to the establishment, Musk declared he would fund primary challengers to unseat those Republican members who voted in favor of the legislation.”If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll help get rid of these Republicans,” Musk posted on X, signaling his willingness to take on those he sees as betraying fiscal conservatism.The battle between Musk and Trump also appears to have affected the stock market. Tesla’s stock, which is often influenced by Musk’s public statements and actions, saw a significant drop in market value following the escalation of their feud.
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