President Trump says he'll look into deporting Elon Musk

President Donald Trump said he would look into deporting Elon Musk to his native South Africa.

This was after the feud between both men reignited, as the billionaire tech entrepreneur heavily criticised Trump's tax and budget bill again.

Turn DOGE on Musk

Trump made the threat while speaking to reporters on Jul. 1.

"We'll have to take a look," Trump said when asked if he will deport Musk.

"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. Wouldn't that be terrible? He gets a lot of subsidies."

Musk's government contracts

The comments came hours after Trump wrote in an early morning post on Truth Social that he might order the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review the billions in contracts that Musk's companies receive.

Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as well as a former White House adviser, previously led DOGE for four months.

"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 in a Jul. 1 post on Truth Social.

"No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. "Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!"

Musk tells Trump to cut the contracts

Musk responded to Trump in a post on X about 30 minutes later.

He wrote: "I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now."

A Washington Post analysis found that Musk and his businesses have received at least US$38 billion (S$48.4 billion) in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits.

Why the resumption of feud?

Musk had resumed voicing out against Trump's so-called "big, beautiful bill" in several posts on X on Jun. 30.

The bill entered a fourth day of debate in the Senate on Monday.

He opposed the bill as it was projected to raise the national debt by US$3.3 trillion (S$4.2 trillion) over the next decade.

Musk had warned that he would try to defeat Republican lawmakers who vote for the legislation by boosting midterm primary challenges against them.

The rift appeared to widen as Musk wrote in another Jun. 30 X post that he was mulling a new political party to be created.

He wrote: "It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!"

"Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people."

Trump said Musk upset because of EV mandate end

Trump has claimed Musk's opposition stems from a piece of legislation that would end a programme under former President Joe Biden, which offers consumer tax credit to buy electric vehicles.

Trump, on his first day in office, took executive action to end an Environmental Protection Agency rule that required auto manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half in new light- and medium-duty vehicles beginning in 2027.

The president referred to it as the "electric vehicle mandate".

Trump wrote on social media: "Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. 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."

Musk's background

Musk was born in South Africa.

He gained Canadian citizenship via his mother.

To study in the U.S., he obtained an exchange visa.

He then got a work visa.

He later became a naturalised U.S. citizen in 2002.

Musk had just two weeks ago apologised for insults he made during his falling out with and exit from the Trump administration in June.

Top photos via Donald Trump Facebook