The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, once a powerful alliance, now appears completely broken. In a new climb overnight, the US president and the richest man in the world exchanged a series of threats that formalized their political divorce.
In a fire subsidy of truth social early on Tuesday, Trump deployed one of the oldest and most charged political insults in the United States, telling the billionaire CEO “to go home to South Africa.”
The conflict ignited at the end of last week after Musk launched a series of scary attacks on Trump’s signature legislation, the “one big beautiful bill.” With the Senate preparing to vote on the bill, Musk doubled because of his criticism, threatening to create a third party to compete with the Republicans and Democrats if the legislation passes.
“It is obvious with the senseless expense of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling with a record five trillion dollars that we live in one party country – the Porky Pig Party !!” The Tech Mogul posted anger on 30 June. He followed with a direct threat: “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
It is obvious with the senseless expense of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling with a record five trillion dollars that we live in a one-party country-La Porky Pig Party !!
Time for a new political party that actually cares about people.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2025
Trump’s response was fast and brutal.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he approved me so hard for president that I was strongly opposed to the evader,” Trump wrote. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
He then pivoted from politics to a direct, personal assault. “Elon can get more subsidies than any person in history, from afar, and without subsidies, Elon is likely to close a shop and go home to South Africa,” Trump continued. “No more rockets, satellites or electric car production, and our country would save fortune.”
The “Return Home” line is historically charged a native trope, often used to question the legitimacy of immigrants and naturalized citizens. By calling for Musk’s South African birth, Trump uses a powerful rhetorical weapon that suggests his opponent, despite being a US citizen since 2002 and the head of critical US companies like SpaceX, is not a “real” American and is therefore clumsy.
Trump ended his post with a bad suggestion aimed at the very government agency Musk itself created and led, the Department of Government Performance (DOGE). “Maybe we should doge take good, hard, look at this?” Trump wrote. “Big Money to be saved !!!”
The message is definitely. Trump threatens to make the US government’s full power into a weapon to investigate and possibly dismantle the companies of a political enemy. Tesla and SpaceX have benefited from billions in federal tax credits and government contracts of NASA and the Defense Department.
Musk, however, did not back. He reacted defiantly for X, demanding that all government subsidies be removed. “I literally say I cut everything,” the billionaire posted in response. “Now.”
I literally say that I cut everything. Now.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1 July 2025
He then hit, where it hurts aiming for President Trump’s leadership and supporting one of his leading Republican critics, representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky. Massie is one of the few lawmakers in Trump’s party to publicly oppose the spending bill. After a user in X urged support for Massie’s re-election campaign, Musk responded with a simple, two-word promise: “I”, confirming that he would give.
Lead us not into temptation
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1 July 2025
It is an impressive turn of events for a relationship that has ever seen Musk as a key, unconventional ally. Now, in the face of disagreement, this alliance has curved public display of rule, where political disagreements are met with threats of financial ruin and national identity issues.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 1 July 2025
