President Donald Trump informed reporters on Tuesday that his administration would “have to take a look” at the possibility of deporting Elon Musk after the billionaire reignited tensions with the president regarding his spending bill.
Musk, a South African national who is also a naturalized U.S. citizen, made several posts on X over the weekend criticizing Republicans for the “Big Beautiful Bill,” contending that it was contributing to an increase in national debt.
“It is evident with the outrageous spending of this bill, which raises the debt ceiling by an unprecedented FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS, that we are living in a one-party nation – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!,” Musk tweeted on Monday afternoon. In political discourse, “pork” typically denotes expenditures within lawmakers’ districts.
President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are seen conversing in the Oval Office prior to leaving the White House in Washington, en route to Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 14, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images
Trump responded with a post on Truth Social early Tuesday, asserting that Tesla CEO Musk was displeased with the bill’s removal of the electric vehicle (EV) mandate and that “Elon would have to close up shop and return to South Africa.”
When reporters later in the morning inquired whether he would consider deporting Musk, Trump replied, “We’ll have to take a look.”
“We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” he remarked, alluding to the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk had previously led as a special government employee.
Musk shared his reaction to Trump’s comments from Tuesday morning on X.
Elon Musk is seen listening as President-elect Donald Trump addresses House Republicans during a meeting at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Washington on November 13, 2024.
Allison Robbert/via Reuters
“So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now,” Musk stated.
Trump continued to criticize Musk later in the day while visiting Florida.
“If DOGE examines Musk, we are going to save a significant amount of money,” he told reporters.
On Monday, Musk threatened to financially support primary challengers against any Republican who voted for the bill “if it is the last thing I do on this earth.”
“He ought to have realized that I would not engage in that, as it was beyond my capacity. I campaigned on those principles for two years. I have never comprehended his actions, yet he will not receive his mandate, and he should exercise caution, for he may not obtain anything further. You understand the implications of that, do you not?” he remarked.
Musk persisted in his criticism of the bill on his social media platform, sharing posts from other users who echoed his sentiments regarding the legislation, accompanied by memes and assertions that it would exacerbate the debt and lead to waste.
This exchange of words signified the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-week truce between the president and Musk.
Last month, Musk, who had recently departed from his position in the White House, took to X to denounce the spending bill and the House Republicans who endorsed it.
Elon Musk attentively listened as President Donald Trump addressed the audience in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on February 11, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
“This enormous, outrageous, pork-laden Congressional spending bill is a revolting abomination,” he expressed on June 3. “Shame on those who cast their votes in favor of it: you are aware that you acted wrongly. You know it.”
Musk maintained his critique and subsequently directed his focus towards the president, stating, “Without my support, Trump would have lost the election, the Democrats would dominate the House, and the Republicans would hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate.”
“Such a lack of gratitude,” he remarked. Musk invested over $270 million to support Trump and other Republican candidates during the 2024 election cycle.
Trump responded on Truth Social, asserting that Musk was displeased with the removal of the EV mandate from the bill and warned of potential repercussions regarding the billionaire’s government contracts.
In an interview with NBC News on June 7, Trump indicated that Musk would “have to face the consequences” should he opt to finance Democratic candidates.
On June 11, Musk shared on X, “I regret some of my comments regarding President @realDonaldTrump last week. They were excessive” following a conversation with Trump earlier that week, sources informed ABC News.
It remains uncertain whether the two individuals have communicated since that time.
