U.S. President Donald Trump reignited his feud with former aide and tech billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, accusing Musk of benefiting excessively from government subsidies. The remarks came after Musk renewed his sharp criticism of Trump’s sweeping spending proposal, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump wrote on social media. “And without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”
Musk, who stepped down in late May as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) — an office created under Trump’s administration — has publicly opposed the president’s flagship bill. The legislation would extend Trump’s expiring tax cuts at a cost of $4.5 trillion and ramp up border security, while significantly increasing the national debt and cutting health care for millions.
As voting on the bill began Monday, Musk took to social media to accuse Republicans of betraying their promises of fiscal conservatism.
“All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America,” Musk posted Tuesday. “What’s the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?”
Trump responded by suggesting DOGE — the very agency Musk once led — scrutinize the business empire of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO.
“No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE,” Trump wrote. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Musk, currently the world’s richest person, has called for the creation of a new political party, claiming a majority of Americans support a break from the two-party system.
“VOX POPULI VOX DEI — 80% voted for a new party,” Musk claimed in another post.
The growing feud adds further division to an already fractured Republican party, as lawmakers brace for the 2026 midterm elections. While Trump is pushing the bill as a cornerstone of his legacy, many conservatives remain uneasy about the ballooning debt and proposed cuts to essential programs.
