President Donald Trump has unleashed fierce criticism of Elon Musk, weeks after the pair had a public bust-up.
It comes as Republicans are hoping to pass Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ in the Senate – part of which could end electric vehicle tax credits, something which Musk has been passionate about.
Musk said days ago that cuts to the EV credits would be ‘incredibly destructive’ to the US, but Trump has hit back and said he knew when he endorsed him for President that Trump was ‘strongly against’ the EV mandate.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote: ‘It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.
‘Elon may get more subsidies 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.
‘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!!!’
Musk, in addition to running electric vehicle company Tesla, is also the head of SpaceX, which has launched multiple rockets in the past decade.
He previously headed up DOGE for the government, hoping to lower the national deficit – something which Musk claims will only increase if Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ passes.
Musk has made multiple posts on X about the bill, sharing one photo of Pinocchio burning with the words ‘LIAR’ boldened.
‘Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year,’ he added.
The bust-up between Trump and Musk is the latest confrontation after a public blowout in June.
The first major cracks in their relationship showed at the end of last month on what turned out to be Musk’s last day in the White House.
When asked about Musk’s disapproval of his ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’, the US president told reporters: ‘Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will ever.’
It was Musk’s tweet – linking Trump with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein – that caused the most controversy.
He alleged that the Republican leader is featured in the secret government files on rich and powerful former associates of the sex offender, reigniting long-running conspiracy theories.
Musk posted: ‘Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.’
He later reposted a video from 1992 of Trump partying with Epstein and memes about their feud – amplifying them to his 220 million followers on X.
He later said he regretted the post. But in April, tensions were also high between the pair: Trump ordered his staff to ensure Musk didn’t go to a highly classified meeting on China after finding out Musk had been planning to attend.
‘What the f**k is Elon doing there? Make sure he doesn’t go,’ Trump reportedly told a staff member, according to Axios.
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