Trump also signalled that he could take aim at the huge contracts and subsidies that Musk’s SpaceX rocket and Starlink satellite internet businesses receive from the US Government.
“We might have to put Doge on Elon. You know what Doge is? DogeE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump said.
Trump added later in Florida: “I don’t think he should be playing that game with me.”
‘Head back home’
In reply to a post on his X social network featuring Trump’s deportation comments, Musk said on Tuesday: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”
Shares of Tesla sank around 5% Tuesday after Trump’s threats.
Trump had made similar comments on Monday, saying Musk was attacking the bill because he was annoyed that it had dropped measures to support the electric vehicles (EV) industry.
@verge Driving on the wrong side of the street, phantom braking, dropping passengers off in busy intersections — Tesla’s robotaxi rollout has been rockier than the fanboys and influencers who got early access to the company’s driverless vehicles would like you to believe. #tech #tesla #elonmusk #fsd
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“Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
The tycoon and the President shared a brief but intense bromance after Trump’s return to power in January.
Wearing MAGA baseball hats, Musk was an almost constant presence at Trump’s side. Trump returned the favour by promoting Tesla electric vehicles when protesters targeted them for Musk’s cost-cutting drive at Doge.
But they had a huge public blow-up in May as Musk criticised the spending bill and then left the Government.
‘Don’t bankrupt America’
Musk had kept a low profile in recent weeks but returned to the fray as the bill began its difficult path through Congress.
He has since posted a steady stream of posts against the bill on the X social network that he owns.
The billionaire’s criticisms centre on claims that the bill would increase the US deficit. He also accuses Republicans of abandoning efforts to place the United States at the front of the EV and clean energy revolution.
“All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America,” he said on social media on Tuesday, accusing Republicans of supporting “debt slavery”.
More worrying perhaps for Trump is the way that Musk is seeking to target vulnerable Republican lawmakers before the 2026 US midterm elections.
Musk has said he will set up his own political movement called the “America Party” if Trump’s bill passes.
And he has pledged to fund challengers against lawmakers who campaigned on reduced federal spending only to vote for the bill.
“VOX POPULI VOX DEI 80% voted for a new party,” he said after launching a poll on the idea on X.
-Agence France-Presse
