Furious Trump Threatens Elon Musk: “Close Up Shop and Head Back Home to South Africa”
President Donald Trump took his public feud with billionaire Elon Musk up a notch this week after threatening to deploy the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) against the Tesla CEO and eliminate government subsidies that support his business empire.
The confrontation came following Musk’s opposition to Trump’s spending legislation, which the Tesla CEO called for a new party.
Trump fired back at Musk on Truth Social, targeting the tech mogul’s reliance on federal support.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote on Truth Social early Tuesday.
“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.”
Trump then delivered a threat regarding Musk’s government subsidies.
“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 stated.
The President suggested using the very department Musk once led against him.
“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!!!”
The ongoing dispute came amid Trump’s comprehensive spending bill, which Musk has characterized as potentially devastating to America’s fiscal health.
On Sunday, Musk rejoined the legislative debate as the Senate considered the package, describing it as “utterly insane and destructive” on social media platform X.
Musk escalated his rhetoric against lawmakers supporting the measure.
“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk declared, targeting Republicans who backed the legislation.
The SpaceX CEO announced plans to establish a new political organization in response to the spending bill.
“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.
“If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day.”
Musk also described the political landscape as dominated by what he termed the “PORKY PIG PARTY.”
He specifically targeted Republican members of the conservative Freedom Caucus for their support of the House version of the bill.
“How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a Debt Slavery bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?” Musk wrote, directly addressing Reps. Andy Harris (R-MD) and Chip Roy (R-TX).
Musk posted an image of Pinocchio being set on fire, while threatening to use it as campaign material against legislators who voted for the spending package.
“Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year.”
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