Trump threatens to go after Elon Musk as he warns the billionaire that he will remove subsidies to his companies, close them down and send him back to South Africa

Trump threatens to go after Elon Musk as he warns the billionaire that he will remove subsidies to his companies, close them down and send him back to South Africa
Donald Trump has threatened to scrap government subsidies afforded to Elon Musk’s companies after the Tesla billionaire attacked his flagship tax bill.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Mr Trump warned that his former political ally would be forced to “close up shop and head back to South Africa” if federal support for his businesses was withdrawn.

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The warning came after Mr Musk intensified his criticism of Mr Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill”, which pledges to slash taxes for the rich, make sweeping cuts to welfare programmes such as Medicaid, and remove incentives for Americans to buy electric cars.

Posting on X, Mr Musk said he would make it his mission to oust Republican senators who vote in favour of the legislation. The 54-year-old also threatened to put their faces on a poster, accusing them of being a “liar” and of “voting to increase America’s debt” by $5 trillion

The posts prompted a furious response from Mr Trump, who is pressuring senators to pass the legislation before his self-imposed deadline of July 4.

“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,” Mr Trump wrote.

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He said that Mr Musk “may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far”, and that he would “probably have to head back home to South Africa” with them.

“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!!!”

Donald Trump ranted about Elon Musk on Truth Social
Donald Trump ranted about Elon Musk on Truth Social
The public exchange marks the collapse of a fragile truce between the pair several weeks ago, following a bitter row in which Mr Musk called for Mr Trump’s impeachment and accused him of appearing in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

At the time, Mr Musk also threatened to form a rival political party, before later apologising.

That earlier dispute was also rooted in opposition to Mr Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”, which will reverse a mandate that gave Americans an electric vehicle tax credit of up to $7,500, benefiting companies including Tesla