U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly threatened to consider the deportation of Elon Musk to South Africa.
The remarks came after Musk harshly criticized Trump’s flagship economic plan, dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which was passed by Congress last week.
Speaking during a press conference, Trump said, “He wants to bite the hand that feeds him? Maybe it’s time we take a look at whether he even belongs here.”
Trump seems to threaten to revoke Musk’s citizenship or residency despite the fact that Musk has been a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2002.
“Elon got rich off American taxpayers, and now he’s whining when we try to clean up the mess,” Trump added. “We may have to take a good, hard look at his companies, and maybe at him too,” said Trump.
Trump’s comments were prompted by Musk’s relentless and fiery condemnation of the bill, which he called “a disgusting abomination.”
Musk also accused Trump and Congress of passing a wasteful package while eliminating crucial tax credits for electric vehicles, an industry Musk’s Tesla dominates.
The fallout between Trump and Musk comes shocking given Musk’s prior support for Trump, contributing $270 million to Trump’s presidential election campaign, which helped Trump to be re-elected as America’s 47th President.
As part of a payback to Musk, Trump appointed Musk as senior adviser to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created agency aimed at slashing wasteful federal spending.
