#TrumpVsMusk
Trump issued a threat on his social media platform stating: "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 dropped by 14 percent on Thursday.
However, Musk also has almost limitless resources to retaliate, including funding his rebellious Republican opponents in next year's elections and the primaries. He may not win a battle against the entire Trump government, but he could inflict a heavy political cost.
Musk wrote on X: "Trump has three and a half years left in the presidency, but I will be here for over 40 years."