As tensions between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk escalate once again, the idea of Musk being deported to his home country of South Africa—without his business empire—has become a topic of heated discussion. On Tuesday, during a press conference, President Trump was asked about the potential of deporting Musk, whose criticism of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” has sparked a war of words. Trump’s response was both cryptic and menacing: “I don’t know, we’ll have to take a look.”

Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has become a vocal critic of the legislation championed by Trump, which promises to add a massive five trillion-dollar increase to the national debt. In a Twitter post ahead of Senate voting, Musk slammed the bill as a symbol of what he calls the “Porky Pig Party,” accusing the U.S. government of wasteful spending and unsustainable fiscal practices.

Musk’s call for a new political party that truly cares about the American people struck a nerve in the Trump camp.

The tensions began earlier this year when Musk became increasingly disillusioned with Trump’s direction, particularly with the legislation’s lack of support for electric vehicle (EV) subsidies. While the bill extends tax benefits to fossil fuel companies, it scraps incentives for the clean energy industry, including Tesla’s electric vehicles.

Musk’s outcry has been sharp, with a post on his platform X where he criticized the bill for potentially bankrupting his company and questioned how the U.S. government could continue supporting his ventures given the bill’s hefty debt increase.

“Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” Musk posted. “The insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS, makes it obvious we live in a one-party country. The PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

In the midst of this growing feud, Trump responded on his own platform, Truth Social, taking aim at Musk’s multi-billion-dollar government contracts and his public criticisms. “Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote late on Monday. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”

Trump went further, invoking a metaphorical threat to Musk’s vast subsidies and his business dealings with the U.S. government. “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump said. “No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country would save a fortune. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? Big money to be saved!”

“DOGE,” which refers to the federal office Musk led until May, was tasked with reducing fraud and waste in government spending. The office had been one of Musk’s major contributions during his time working closely with Trump. Musk’s departure from the White House in late May marked the beginning of a much more combative phase between the two figures, with Musk openly criticizing the president’s economic policies.

In Musk’s tenure as head of DOGE, he pushed for dramatic cuts in government size by identifying areas of waste, fraud, and inefficiency. However, Musk’s vision for fiscal discipline clashed with the broader agenda of the Trump administration.

As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Musk’s criticism of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” has positioned him squarely in opposition to Trump and the Republican Party’s fiscal policies. It seems the rupture between Musk and Trump has only deepened, with Musk even going so far as to call for the creation of a new political party. “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” Musk reiterated in a June 30 post.

This public back-and-forth between Musk and Trump comes after months of strained relations. Though Musk had initially been an ally of Trump, particularly during the 2024 presidential election, their relationship began to unravel after Musk’s outspoken criticism of the president’s policies.

Trump, feeling betrayed by Musk’s criticism, has now floated the idea of cutting off federal subsidies to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have benefitted from billions of dollars in government contracts and loans over the years.

According to a Washington Post analysis, Musk’s companies have received at least $38 billion in U.S. government support in the form of contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits. SpaceX, in particular, has had a long-standing relationship with the Department of Defense and NASA, securing billions for satellite launches and space exploration initiatives. Tesla has also received generous tax incentives for electric vehicle production, helping to position the company as the leader in the EV market.

Despite the millions in subsidies, Trump has made it clear that he believes Musk’s companies would be better off without such government support. He believes the government’s expenditures should be directed elsewhere and that the subsidies Musk’s companies receive are not justified by their continued financial success.

The president’s recent rhetoric about Musk going “back home to South Africa” has caused many to question the direction of this feud. Musk, who was born in South Africa but became a naturalized U.S. citizen over two decades ago, is now caught in a dangerous political game between his pursuit of fiscal responsibility and his once-close ties to the current president.

Musk’s comments on the bill suggest that he sees Trump’s policies as not only financially irresponsible but detrimental to the future of the American economy.

The question now remains: What will the next step be for Musk and Trump? Musk’s wealth and influence have made him a key player in the political conversation, but Trump’s hold on the Republican Party—along with his vast base of supporters—remains powerful.

The two figures represent opposing visions for the future of the country, one focused on financial conservatism and the other on nationalist populism, with the future of Musk’s business empire hanging in the balance.

Musk’s calls for a new political party are indicative of his growing disillusionment with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He’s made it clear that he no longer feels aligned with the political establishment, and his actions—whether it be through backing primary challengers for Republicans or suggesting a break from traditional politics—signal his desire to break free from the status quo.

With the Senate preparing to vote on the massive spending bill, the question remains whether Musk’s influence can sway Republican lawmakers. As Trump continues to consolidate his power over the GOP, Musk’s fight against the bill—and potentially his war of words with the president—will continue to unfold in the public eye.

In conclusion, the ongoing feud between Trump and Musk is more than just a war of words. It represents a fundamental clash of ideologies, one centered on fiscal conservatism and the other on nationalistic populism.

With Musk’s business empire at stake and Trump’s financial policies under fire, the battle between these two powerful figures is bound to have major political consequences in the years to come.