U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled he might expel billionaire Elon Musk from the United States, sending him back to his native South Africa, he said on Tuesday while speaking to reporters.
Trump—who previously called something similar via his own social media—has had a public falling-out with Musk, a major supporter during his presidential campaigns. Their feud escalated over Musk’s objections to a proposed U.S. budget bill that would end subsidies for domestic electric vehicles.
The animosity intensified when Musk criticized Trump’s policy as one that would lead the country into debt and unemployment.
On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Musk took to X to denounce the bill passed by the Senate:
“The bill just passed by the Senate will destroy millions of jobs in the U.S. and cause a huge problem. It’s absolute insanity and it will destroy … gives a break to old industries while destroying future ones.”
When asked if he really planned to expel Musk, as hinted on social media, Trump replied:
“We have to look into it. We must put DOGE on Elon. Do you know what DOGE is? It’s an animal that could turn around and eat Elon.”
Trump was referring to the Department of Government Expenditures (DOGE)—previously led by Musk—which oversees federal spending.
On his posts on Truth Social, Trump acknowledged Musk as the largest recipient of federal subsidies, and suggested:
“If not for those subsidies, he would probably have shut his doors and returned to his farm in South Africa.”
