#TrumpVsMusk

Trump posted a threat on his social media platform saying: "The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to end government support for Elon and his contracts".

And if Trump directs government agencies against Musk, the tech billionaire will feel the pain. Tesla's stock price fell by 14 percent on Thursday.

But Musk also has almost limitless resources to respond, including funding his rebellious Republican competitors in next year's elections and the primaries. He may not win a battle against the entire Trump government, but he could impose a heavy political cost on him.