US President Donald Trump on Tuesday took fresh aim at Elon Musk. He claimed the Tesla CEO would “head back home to South Africa” if federal subsidies for electric vehicles disappeared.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump wrote on social media. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Musk, once a top donor and vocal supporter, has grown critical of Trump’s policies. His remarks followed Musk’s condemnation of the “Big Beautiful Bill,” Trump’s huge spending package with clean energy credits. Musk said cutting those incentives would be “incredibly destructive” and “political suicide for the Republican Party.”
“Elon Musk knew, long before he endorsed me, that I was against the EV Mandate,” Trump added. “It is ridiculous. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
No US law requires people to buy electric vehicles. However, tax credits encourage Americans to choose cleaner cars.
Musk also attacked the bill on X, formerly Twitter. He said Republicans who backed the spending should “hang their heads in shame.” He warned they will lose their primaries next year.
Trump continued:
“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!!!”
DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, was Musk’s project to slash federal spending. It quickly ran into trouble over mass firings, unproven claims of waste, and failure to deliver results.
Musk left his advisory role in May. His exit triggered a bitter feud with Trump. The billionaire then condemned the president’s signature bill in public.
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