A dramatic political feud has erupted between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, with Trump threatening to impose additional subsidies on Tesla and warning that the world’s richest man might be forced to return to South Africa if government support is withdrawn.
The clash emerged after Musk announced plans to sponsor the creation of a new political party to challenge America’s traditional two-party system, directly opposing Trump’s legislative agenda in the process.
The confrontation began as the Senate prepared to vote on President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” on Monday. Musk launched a scathing attack on lawmakers via his social media platform X, declaring that “every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame.”
The SpaceX CEO escalated his criticism hours later, threatening political consequences for those supporting the spending bill. “They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk wrote, before making his most provocative announcement yet.
“If the insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,” Musk declared on X. “Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”
Trump’s response came swiftly via Truth Social early Tuesday morning, targeting Musk’s business empire and its reliance on government support. “Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump posted. “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 president then delivered a pointed warning about the tech mogul’s financial dependence on government subsidies. “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,” the president added, suggesting that eliminating Musk’s government support could benefit taxpayers.
In a particularly sharp twist, Trump proposed using DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk himself has been associated with—to investigate the billionaire’s subsidies. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” Trump concluded.
The legislative battle at the center of this dispute continues in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Democratic lawmakers have mounted strong opposition to Trump’s bill. Critics argue the legislation would primarily benefit the wealthy through tax cuts while simultaneously reducing healthcare coverage and Medicaid for over one million poor Americans and cutting school feeding programs for millions of children from low-income families.
This public falling out between two of America’s most prominent figures represents a significant shift in their relationship, transforming Musk from a key Trump supporter into a potential political adversary threatening to disrupt the traditional party structure that brought Trump back to power.
