By Ghazali Ibrahim
United States President Donald Trump has hinted at the possibility of deporting South African-born billionaire Elon Musk, marking a dramatic turn in the relationship between the two influential figures.
During a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, Trump was asked about whether he was considering the deportation of Musk.
“I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look,” he replied, leaving the door open to speculation about the future of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
The fallout between Trump and Musk comes in the wake of Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s flagship legislative proposal, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
Musk took issue with provisions in the bill that scale back federal support for electric vehicles (EVs), a cornerstone of his business empire.
In response, Trump, who once counted Musk among his supporters and donors during the 2024 presidential campaign, did not hide his frustration. He hinted that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might begin scrutinizing Musk’s access to federal subsidies.
“We might have to put DOGE on Elon. You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump said, combining humor with a pointed warning.
The president further claimed that Musk’s discontent was due to the removal of EV-friendly provisions from the bill.
“He’s losing his EV mandate. He’s very upset about things, but he could lose a lot more than that,” Trump said.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump escalated the rhetoric, suggesting Musk’s rise in the U.S. has been heavily reliant on federal support.
“Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump posted.
Musk, currently the world’s richest man and a former head of the DOGE agency before resigning in May, has remained critical of the administration’s shifting stance on clean energy.
He has also hinted at launching a new political movement, the “America Party,” if the controversial spending bill becomes law.
