#TrumpVsMusk

Trump posted a threat on his social media site 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".

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

But Musk also has nearly limitless resources to respond, including funding his rebellious Republican challengers 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.

Musk wrote on X: "Trump has three and a half years left in the presidency, but I will be here for over 40 years."