In an extraordinary breakdown of their once-allied relationship, Trump and Musk are locked in a bitter battle over subsidies, spending, and power. Now deportation threats have entered the fray.
BY PC Bureau
July 1, 2025 — In an explosive twist to their deepening feud, President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would “take a look” at deporting Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, fuelling speculation about whether the tech billionaire’s U.S. citizenship status could be weaponized for political payback.
The remark came in response to a reporter’s question: “Will you consider deporting Elon Musk?” Trump replied: “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.” Though offhanded, the statement adds fire to an already escalating war of words between the two once-allies-turned-rivals.
The spat has been simmering for months. But Trump’s latest comments followed a post on his Truth Social platform, accusing Musk of hypocrisy: “Elon Musk may have to close up shop and head back to South Africa. He’s received more subsidies than anyone in history. Without federal money, there’d be no Teslas, no rockets, no satellites.”
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Trump also called on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—an agency Musk once headed—to investigate his former ally: “BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk fired back on X, formerly Twitter, declaring, “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.” A vocal critic of Trump’s $4 trillion spending package—sarcastically dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill”—Musk has called the legislation a “disgusting abomination” and “a betrayal of fiscal conservatives.”
He further accused Congress of selling out: “Any lawmaker who campaigned on fiscal restraint and voted for this bill should hang their head in shame.”
As tensions rose, Musk hinted at forming a third political outfit: The America Party. “We don’t have two parties anymore. Just one—The Porky Pig Party,” he wrote.
There is no statute of Limitations on Naturalization fraud.
We know @elonmusk lied about his student visa@realDonaldTrump does have the power to deport him at any time https://t.co/3L0h7GzDbQ
— jgmac1106 (@jgmac1106) July 1, 2025
Trump allies quickly followed suit. Former strategist Steve Bannon told The New York Times, “There should be a formal investigation into Musk’s immigration status. I believe he’s an illegal alien.” On Real America’s Voice, Bannon even suggested the government “seize SpaceX.”
Musk, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002, responded sharply: “I was on a J-1 visa, transitioned to an H1-B. The government has all the records. This is political desperation.”
Congressman Adam Smith added fuel, posting on X: “Far be it for me to advise Trump, but if he wants to hit Musk, send ICE after him. Don’t let Elon push you around.”
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Once friendly, Musk and Trump’s relationship soured after the billionaire called for Trump’s impeachment and branded his prized spending bill “The Big Ugly Bill.” Musk also briefly claimed Trump was named in the Epstein files—a statement he later retracted.
Trump hit back by branding Musk ungrateful: “He owes his success to U.S. taxpayers. Now he wants to torch the same system that helped him thrive.”
Trump’s final warning? “DOGE is the monster that may have to eat Elon,” alluding again to the same agency Musk once led.
Political Feud or Real Threat?
Though experts say deporting a naturalized citizen like Musk would face massive legal hurdles, the mere threat signals a disturbing new phase in American politics—where dissent could be met with personal and punitive actions from the highest office.
With egos, ideology, and billions at stake, what began as policy disagreement has become a gladiatorial showdown between power and disruption.
