US President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Elon Musk and threatened to cut government subsidies to Musk’s companies, including Tesla and SpaceX.
In a series of posts on Truth Social on July 1, 2025, Trump claimed that Musk’s business empire is heavily dependent on federal support, stating that without these subsidies, Musk would “probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.” Trump asserted that Musk “may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” and suggested that eliminating these subsidies would save the US “a fortune”.
Trump’s remarks were made amid an escalating feud with Musk over the president’s flagship spending legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk has been a vocal critic of the bill, calling it “political suicide for the Republican Party” and threatening to launch a new political party—the “America Party”—if the bill passes the Senate. In response to Trump’s threat, Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now,” indicating he welcomes the removal of all subsidies to his companies.
Trump also called for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk previously led, to investigate the extent of subsidies flowing to Musk’s businesses, emphasizing the potential for significant government savings.
Key points:
• Trump accused Musk of relying on government subsidies and threatened to end them, implying Musk would have to shut down US operations without them.
• The feud is linked to Musk’s opposition to Trump’s major spending bill and his threat to form a new political party.
• Musk responded defiantly, urging Trump to follow through and cut all subsidies to his companies.
• Trump suggested a government audit of Musk’s subsidy receipts, highlighting the political and financial stakes of the dispute.
This public clash underscores deep divisions between the two high-profile figures over government spending, the future of electric vehicles, and the direction of US industrial policy
