After differences over the spending legislation “One Big Beautiful Bill,” U.S. President Donald Trump took on his former aide and Tesla boss Elon Musk, while threatening to cut subsidies to the tech entrepreneur’s companies. 

He threatened Musk, who was born in South Africa, that without subsidies, Musk would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. He also hinted at a probe against the tech companies through DOGE, which was once led by Musk. 

Trump posted on Truth Social, “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. 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. 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!!!”

Trump’s latest statement comes after Elon Musk strongly criticised the US President’s “big, beautiful bill” and stressed that it is time for a new political party that cares about the people.

In a post on X, Musk stated, “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.”

He further asked, “How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?”

“Polls show that this bill is political suicide for the Republican Party,” Musk said in a post on X on Saturday.

Musk also engaged in a public feud with Trump following his departure from the Trump administration, during which he called for US President’s impeachment and accused him of being linked to the files of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.