Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Elon Musk, suggesting he could be forced to shut down his companies and “head back to South Africa” if Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill” passes and removes federal subsidies that Tesla and other Musk-led businesses benefit from.
Trump accused Musk of depending too much on government support and hinted that he might use the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—which Musk once led—to audit the funds backing Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.
In response, Musk hit back on X (formerly Twitter), calling the bill “insane” and vowing to scrap all subsidies, even those that benefit him. He also threatened to launch a new “America Party” to oppose the bill if needed.
The public spat started over disagreements about the bill’s huge spending and its impact on national debt, but it has now grown into a heated feud that could affect both politics and the financial markets. Trump’s threats and Musk’s strong counterattack have sparked investor concerns and added more tension to an already charged political environment.
