Trump threatened to unleash Elon Musk’s brainchild, DOGE, against him to investigate his company’s government subsidies — warning his former ally that he may have “to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” the president posted on Truth Social early Tuesday.
“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.”
The commander-in-chief then warned the SpaceX CEO that if his government subsidies were taken away, he’d have no choice but to return to his native South Africa.
“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 wrote.
“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.”
Doubling down on the threat, Trump said he may turn DOGE against Musk to investigate his government subsidies.
“Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” Trump concluded.
The president’s comments come after Musk renewed his sharp criticisms of the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it “utterly insane” and “political suicide.”
Musk, 54, expressed his frustration and rage over the massive spending bill — on which Trump’s major policy agenda hangs — on social media ahead of the Senate vote.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” the former DOGE chief wrote on X Saturday.
“Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
On Monday, the world’s richest man continued his criticism, saying lawmakers who had campaigned on cutting spending but backed the bill “should hang their heads in shame!”
“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk said.
The Tesla CEO called again for a new political party, saying the bill’s massive spending indicated “that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”
The billionaire’s fallout earlier this month with former ally President Trump was reportedly set off by disagreements about the massive spending bill, which was undergoing a procedural vote late Saturday.
That spat culminated with Musk endorsing the impeachment and removal of his former chosen candidate.
Musk later apologized to the president, who suggested that a reconciliation between the former allies is still possible.
The billionaire left the Trump administration and his role in DOGE on May 29, 130 days after Trump’s inauguration.
