In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing clash, former US President Donald Trump has publicly warned Elon Musk to “close up shop” and return to South Africa—the country of Musk’s birth. This bombshell came via Trump’s post on Truth Social, as tensions soar between the two powerhouses over the controversial “Big Beautiful Bill.”
Trump didn’t mince words, accusing Musk of hypocrisy and excessive dependence on government subsidies. “Electric vehicles are fine, but Americans shouldn’t be forced into them,” Trump wrote, adding, “Elon might’ve bagged more subsidies than anyone in history. Without them, he’d probably have to pack up and head back to South Africa.”
He went further, warning that ending federal support could shut down SpaceX, Tesla, and Starlink operations. “No more rocket launches, satellites, or EVs. The US would save a fortune!” Trump added sarcastically, even dragging in DOGE—the Department of Government Efficiency—to take a closer look.
This verbal war follows Musk’s fiery criticism of Trump’s “OneBigBeautifulBill,” which he slammed as a “disgusting abomination” and blamed for soaring deficits and slashed EV tax benefits. Musk, who once held a key advisory role under Trump, recently teased starting a third political party, calling both Democrats and Republicans “out of touch.”
As the clash escalated, Trump threatened to axe billions in federal contracts for Musk’s companies, while Musk fired back on X (formerly Twitter), even throwing wild Epstein file accusations—later retracted—into the mix.
One thing’s clear: the bromance between Trump and Musk is officially over—and it’s getting political, personal, and planetary.