The public feud between billionaire Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump has intensified following sharp remarks from Trump suggesting Musk might be sent back to South Africa, his country of origin, due to government assistance his companies received. Musk responded, calling those comments “incredibly disappointing.”
This confrontation emerged after the U.S. Senate passed a controversial bill that Trump dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a significant tax and spending package that raises the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion.
The legislation includes extensive tax cuts and increases in defense and border security spending while reducing social and health care programs. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, the bill is projected to add around $3.3 trillion to the budget deficit over the next decade.
Crazy and Destructive
Musk, who was a major supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign and contributed no less than $250 million, harshly criticized the bill, labeling it “crazy and utterly destructive” and a “political suicide.” He stated on platform X (formerly Twitter): “It gives assistance to industries of the past while harming industries of the future.”
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, criticized Musk regarding the government support his companies received, particularly in the electric vehicle sector, remarking, “Without that support, Musk might have had to shut down his businesses and return to South Africa.” When asked if he would reconsider Musk’s potential deportation, Trump replied, “I don’t know. We’ll have to look into it.”
Musk, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002, retorted via platform X, saying, “This is a clear mistake. It’s incredibly disappointing.” He continued his criticisms of the debt ceiling policies in subsequent posts, adding, “All I ask is that we do not bankrupt America… What’s the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?”
Widespread Controversy
The bill has sparked significant debate within political and economic circles. Bobby Urquhart, modeling and analysis director at the Energy Innovation Foundation, stated that passing the bill could jeopardize over 4,500 clean energy projects across the U.S. due to reduced support, according to Newsweek.
State of Chaos
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska commented after the vote: “My hope is that the House recognizes we have not yet reached our intended goal.” Meanwhile, Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer remarked that “Republicans are in a state of chaos because they know the bill is deeply unpopular.”
On June 30, Musk hinted again at starting a new party called the “America Party” if the legislation is finalized, writing: “If this insane spending bill is passed, the America Party will be formed the next day. The country needs a real alternative to the two traditional parties.”
The ball is now in the House of Representatives’ court, which previously passed an earlier version of the bill by a narrow margin in May, before significant amendments were made in the Senate, indicating a potential new clash between the White House and Congress in the coming days.