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U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to revoke government subsidies granted to Elon Musk’s companies, warning that the billionaire entrepreneur might have to “close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
The remarks come in response to Musk’s recent declaration of support for forming a new political party in the United States to challenge the dominance of the Republican and Democratic parties.
As the Senate debated Trump’s controversial spending proposal — dubbed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” — Musk voiced his disapproval in a post on his social media platform, X.
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk wrote.
Hours later, he followed up with a sharper threat: “If the insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”
Trump, in turn, lashed out on his platform, Truth Social, on Tuesday morning.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was against the EV mandate,” Trump wrote. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
He then took direct aim at Musk’s reliance on federal subsidies.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far. Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump warned. “No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production — and our country would save a FORTUNE.”
Trump further hinted at the possibility of launching a federal probe into Musk’s government funding, cryptically suggesting: “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Meanwhile, the spending bill at the center of the dispute is facing stiff opposition from Democratic lawmakers. Critics argue it disproportionately favors the wealthy by offering tax breaks, while slashing healthcare and Medicaid for over one million low-income Americans, and cutting funding for school meal programs serving millions of underprivileged children.
