US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again took aim at his onetime close ally Elon Musk, claiming the billionaire would “head back home to South Africa” if federal subsidies on electric vehicles are cut.
“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 wrote on social media about his former top campaign donor, who also owns EV maker Tesla.
The president’s remarks followed more criticism by Musk of Trump’s massive “Big Beautiful Bill,” saying that cuts to EV and clean energy credits would be “incredibly destructive” and labeling it “political suicide for the Republican Party.”
“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 said.
No US legislation forces people to own electric vehicles, but credits encourage buying the more environmentally friendly vehicles.
On Tuesday, Musk also criticized the bill on X, saying those who campaigned on cutting spending but supported the bill should “hang their heads in shame” and warned they will lose campaign primaries next year.
“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!!!” Trump added in his post, also taking aim at Musk’s lucrative SpaceX contracts with the US government.
DOGE or Department of Government Efficiency refers to the unofficial Musk-led effort to downsize the government, which was mired in controversy over firings and hasty rehirings of critical government workers, unproven claims of waste and abuse, and a failure to deliver on promised savings.
Musk exited his government role in May, a move quickly followed by a bitter online exchange between the mogul and Trump, with Musk condemning the president’s signature “Big Beautiful Bill.”
