The long-running feud between the world’s richest man Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump intensified on Tuesday after Trump in an social media post threatened to deport the tech billionaire over his criticism of his administration’s landmark ‘big beautiful’ tax bill.
Musk, who has been vocal against certain provisions in the Republican backed spending bill, hinted at escalating tensions but stopped short. “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO wrote on X post, reacting to a viral video of Trump’s remarks.
So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2025
In the clip, Trump burst on Musk for opposing the bill’s rollback of green energy incentives, including the 7,500 dollars federal tax credit for electric vehicles. “Close up shop and head back home to South Africa without subsidies,” Trump said. “No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production… our country would save a fortune.”
Musk was working as the president’s advisor and leading DOGE until May. Trump claimed that without subsidies, the Tesla CEO “would probably have to close up shop”. The Republican leader’s comment comes after Musk criticised the slashing of subsidies for electric vehicles in Trump’s “Big, Beautiful bill”.
In his tweet, Musk quoted a line from the Christian prayer: “Our Father” in a follow up post: “Lead us not into temptation.” The tech king was replying to a user criticising Trump’s threat and mocking the administration’s stance on clean energy.
Lead us not into temptation
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 1, 2025
The President’s sharp comments came just hours after the US Senate narrowly passed the controversial spending package, which includes massive cuts to clean energy programs and reverses several Biden-era environmental mandates. Trump, who has made his opposition to electric vehicles a core part of his campaign rhetoric, reiterated his belief that EV subsidies were “ridiculous” and claimed they were draining the federal budget.
Musk has also claimed that if US lawmakers pass the bill in Congress, then he would launch a new political outfit called “America Party”.
