Trump says without US subsidies, Musk would have to return to South Africa

Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump have resumed their attacks at each other after weeks of relative silence following their public dramatic fall out.

As the US senate debated Trump’s contentious “Big, Beautiful Bill” on Monday before a final vote, Musk threatened those in favour of the proposal.

“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!” he tweeted on his social media platform X.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk also threatened to put their faces on a poster which said “liar”, “voted to increase America’s DEBT” by $5 trillion.

The tech mogul also reposted tweets that criticised the bill and praised his stance on the matter.

Trump’s reply was swift.

The president said Musk knew, long before he strongly endorsed him, that he was strongly against the electric vehicle (EV) mandate.

In previous exchanges, Trump had accused Musk of developing a problem with the bill only when he found out it was going to cut the EV mandate out, but Musk denied the claims.

“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 continued on his Truth Social account early Tuesday morning.

“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!!!”

THE FALL OUT

Musk headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before he abruptly quit his role — a day after he criticised Trump’s bill.

DOGE was Musk’s idea as he campaigned for Trump’s re-election bid. The department was touted as a cost-cutting initiative.

Since January 20 when Trump was inaugurated, DOGE has shrunk 11 federal agencies, forcing about 250,000 federal workers out of their jobs.

The agency also claimed to have saved taxpayers $160 billion. Its promise was to save $2 trillion.

Since Trump and Musk fell out, they have both threatened each other.

As part of the fall out consequences, Trump said he would cancel federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies.

Trump also said he had received calls from allies who have recommended investigations into Musk’s business dealings and immigration record.

The president spoke last month while clarifying that he had no desire to mend his relationship with Musk.

Meanwhile, the Tesla CEO has re-echoed calls to form a new political party.