In a recent viral video during a public event, President Trump gave Elon Musk a surprising and kind of hazy warning about his future in the U.S. This came as a shocker, given how famous Musk is as a business leader and political figure. It looks like the warning comes from the fact that Musk spoke out against Trump’s policies, especially a recent budget bill. This then caught a lot of attention, from the public to the political analysts, and left many to wonder what Trump might do next, as this exchange of arguments and threats is becoming more intense and eventually personal.
The History Between Trump and Musk
It was a timeline of confusion that turned into cooperation and then ended in conflict, a huge one. During the 2016 election, Musk wasn’t actually sure about Trump but then joined the administration as a space and manufacturing advisor. Eventually, Musk quit after Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, which was the start of the clash on important issues. Later, they made up, with Trump praising and involving Musk in government projects. But their friendship fell apart again after Musk’s rants against Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which caused their bond to be fully consumed by the flames.
Trump Threatens To Deport Musk
Last July 1, 2025, in a recorded video made public, President Trump was asked by reporters if he would think about deporting Musk, to which he replied, “We’ll have to take a look,” also joking about using “DOGE” (the Department of Government Efficiency) to investigate Musk’s subsidies, saying, “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.” This moment quickly went viral online and sparked intense public and media attention about the rising conflict between the two.
Not Everyone Knows This About Elon Musk
Elon Musk is the Tesla CEO, a well-known businessman who was born in South Africa, gained Canadian citizenship through his mother, and became an American by 2002 through naturalization, so basically, he’s a citizen of three countries. While President Trump hints at deporting Musk, doing so is very difficult and will require proof of serious frauds during the citizenship process, which wasn’t evident in Musk’s. He may have had his early student and work visa unauthorized back in the 90s, but it doesn’t mean that the government can easily take away his citizenship.
The Big Fight Over the “Big Beautiful Bill”
The recent exchange between Trump and Musk, where they ranted back and forth on X (formerly Twitter), focused on the major tax and spending bill that Trump referred to as the “big, beautiful bill.” Musk strongly disagreed with it, calling it a “disgusting abomination” because it cuts subsidies and tax breaks for electric cars, as well as government contracts and money that Musk’s companies depend on. Well, with that, Musk will really have something to say, and that made Trump feel betrayed and eventually get frustrated, calling Musk a hypocrite. This feud just turned into a very public clash over politics, business, and even loyalty.
Trump’s Visit to the Florida Immigration Center
Trump’s recent trip to a new immigration center in Florida, which was called “Alligator Alcatraz,” made news and stirred his fight with Elon Musk even worse. Many saw the visit as a clear sign of Trump being serious about cracking down on immigration, which also made observers quickly link the timing of his visit to his threats about possibly deporting Musk. Speculations were everywhere about whether Trump is using the immigration policy as a way to pressure his political rivals; the visit looked like a message to anyone who might cross him.
The Role of Government Contracts and Subsidies
Government contracts and subsidies played a very important role in Trump and Musk’s conflict. Over the past two decades, Tesla and SpaceX, both owned by Musk, have received about $38 billion in government support, which includes contracts, loans, and tax credits. SpaceX, a key contractor under NASA, has earned billions bringing astronauts and developing lunar landers, while Tesla gains from the electric vehicle tax credits and regulatory credits that are worth billions annually. Trump’s recent budget bill proposes cutting many of these mentioned subsidies and contracts, which Musk strongly argues against since it can change Musk’s business operations and innovation plans.
Public and Political Reactions
The feud between Trump and Musk has triggered strong opinions from many people, from critics seeing Trump’s threats as an abuse of power and a risky way to punish his opponents, to supporters admiring how brave Musk is to stand up to Trump and protect his businesses. Political experts also have jumped into the conversation, where they spoke out against the personal attacks, and others stood by Trump’s harsh remarks. The situation eventually raised bigger questions about how much influence these people should have in politics as well as how smaller immigrant entrepreneurs will be affected by it, knowing that the world’s richest man is being threatened to leave America.
Musk’s Response to Trump’s Comments
Musk made it clear that he’s not backing down politically, saying that it’s, “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting…” He also reminded the internet about his support for Trump during the 2024 election with his tweet, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election.” Recently, he also announced plans to support candidates who are against the Republicans who support Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” and called for the creation of a new political party called the “America Party” that would truly represent the people, showing that Musk is actively placing himself to influence the next elections.
What Could Happen Next?
The dispute between Trump and Musk is still unknown, but one thing’s for sure: it’ll deeply impact America’s political and economic landscape. A fight over policy quickly turned personal with deportation threats, and the battle over the contracts just added fuel to the fire. Both parties aren’t likely to back down anytime soon. And at the very core, the issue isn’t only about two wealthy men; it’s an ongoing rivalry over how business, politics, and immigration merge in America, with people now wondering what’s going to happen in the country’s future.