The feud between US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has flared up again. After Elon Musk upped the ante against Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’, issuing political threats to Republicans who may back it, Trump has hit back. The US president broke his silence on Musk’s shenanigans, offering a reason why Musk may have to return to South Africa.
Trump hits back at Musk over subsidies and EV mandates
Donald Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to accuse Elon Musk of being overly reliant on government subsidies and claiming he had been against EV mandate even during his political campaign.
“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.’ Trump strongly positioned himself Musk’s core EV business.
Trump further claimed that Musk’s businesses, including Tesla and SpaceX, would not survive without federal support.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump posted. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.” He also ridiculed the idea of the U.S. being forced into electric vehicles, saying, “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
Trump reiterated that he has always been opposed to EV mandates and that Musk knew this well before endorsing him. He added a cryptic jab: “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk calls Trump a liar
Trump’s tirade was triggered by Musk’s recent post on X calling Trump a “liar” who campaigned on cutting government spending but voted for the biggest debt ceiling increase in US history.
“Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year,” Musk posted.
Musk also threatened to form a new political party, named the “America Party”, if what he called an “insane spending bill” becomes law. “Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE,” he declared.
This isn’t the first time Musk has criticised politicians, but his recent posts show a sharper tone and a more focused political agenda. In a series of tweets, Musk denounced both Democrats and Republicans, calling them the “PORKY PIG PARTY” and accusing them of betraying their promises of fiscal responsibility.
“It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill… that we live in a one-party country,” he wrote. “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!”
Musk concluded with a dramatic pledge: “They will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”