On July 1, 2025, President Donald Trump suggested he might consider deporting Elon Musk, a naturalised U.S. citizen born in South Africa, amid a heated feud over Trump’s tax and spending bill. The legislation, which ends electric vehicle (EV) tax credits, has drawn sharp criticism from Musk, Tesla’s CEO.
During a White House press interaction, Trump responded to questions about deporting Musk, stating, “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.” He also referenced the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), once led by Musk, saying, “We might have to put DOGE on Elon. DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.” Trump’s comments followed Musk’s vocal opposition to the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which accelerates the end of a $7,500 EV consumer tax credit, impacting Tesla’s market.
President Donald Trump said he would look into deporting billionaire Elon Musk in response to a question about the ally-turned-critic of his signature tax and spending legislation https://t.co/ePNGESzd7w
— Bloomberg (@business) July 1, 2025Booloomber reported that the conflict stems from Musk’s criticism of the bill, which he called an “insane spending bill” on X, arguing it would add $2.4–$5 trillion to the U.S. debt. Trump, who claims the bill cuts $1.6 trillion in expenses, attributed Musk’s stance to the loss of EV subsidies, posting on Truth Social, “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history.” Musk denied subsidy-driven motives, emphasising fiscal concerns and threatening to fund a new “America Party” to challenge lawmakers. Their rift, which escalated after Musk’s exit from DOGE in May, has led to personal attacks, including Musk’s now-deleted post related to Epstein.
Musk, a key Trump supporter in 2024 with $292 million in campaign contributions, faces potential risks to Tesla and SpaceX, which rely on government contracts and subsidies. Trump’s threats to cut these, combined with his deportation remarks, led to a 14.3% drop in Tesla shares, wiping out $150 billion in value. Legal experts, like David Bredin, argue deportation is unlikely unless fraud is proven in Musk’s 2002 naturalisation, though allegations of illegal work in the 1990s have resurfaced.
Read: Elon Musk Threatens Lawmakers Supporting Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill
The bill, narrowly passed by the House, faces scrutiny in the Senate, with fiscal conservatives like Rand Paul opposing its $5 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, criticise the cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, which will impact 11.8 million Americans. Musk’s public feud, including support for GOP critics like Thomas Massie, highlights Republican divisions, complicating the bill’s passage by July 4. The dispute also underscores Trump’s use of government power to target opponents, raising concerns about political retribution.
