🔹 What Cohen Said
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, stated on MSNBC that Trump may soon begin targeting Elon Musk’s wealth, saying:
> “Trump will ultimately go after Elon’s money next, because it bothers him that he is the richest man in the world.” He added that though Trump once “used” Musk for financial gain, he’s now “going to figure out how Elon… took advantage of the United States.”
Cohen referenced Trump’s creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — formerly led by Musk — and speculated that the administration could try to claw back Elon’s EV tax credits (e.g. the $7,500 per Tesla vehicle subsidy) under the banner of eliminating government waste.
🔍 What the Trump Administration Could Actually Do
According to Reuters, Trump has escalated his rhetoric and threatened to cut all subsidies and $22 billion in federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies (Tesla, SpaceX). He even joked that DOGE might have to “eat Elon” to save money.
Additional tensions were sparked by Musk’s criticism of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”, with Trump suggesting Musk should “go back to South Africa”—despite Musk being a U.S. citizen. He also floated using government authority to investigate Musk’s companies.
⚖ Implications: Is This Plausible or Political Drama?
Legal vs Rhetorical Action: As president, Trump could pressure agencies (like IRS or DOE) to audit subsidies, or deny future support. Canceling existing contracts would require legal justification—possibly hinging on allegations of misrepresentation or regulatory violation.
DOGE Audits: If the successor to Musk at DOGE opens a fraud/stat bias review into EV credits, Musk may face political heat or formal IRS investigation.
Symbolism & Optics: Public statements like “it bothers him that Musk is the richest man” might be posturing, but they shift the narrative toward populist envy and political retribution.
🧭 What to Monitor
Signal Why It Matters
IRS or Department of Energy audit of Tesla’s EV credits or R&D tax claims Could reveal selective targeting of Musk
Cancelled or delayed SpaceX / NASA contracts (e.g. ~$22 B in SpaceX deals) Demonstrates actual executive action vs symbolism
New executive orders or special counsel involvement citing waste, fraud, or abuse in Tesla / SpaceX Echoes Cohen's “billion-dollar claw back” theory
Trump administration interviews or official Trump statements referencing Musk or DOGE Search for phrases like “eat Elon” or “Elon must pay back subsidies” to track escalation
✅ Bottom Line
Michael Cohen’s forecast: resentful envy may replace alliance, with Trump shifting from using Musk’s influence to potentially dismantling his fortunes using federal levers like DOGE.
Whether that turns into legal action or continues as political theater hinges on audit findings, contract terms, or upcoming executive decisions. Tesla and SpaceX investors may want to stay vigilant—watch DOGE releases, contract extensions, and any emerging subsidy reversals.