Trump Fires Warning Shot at Musk Over Government Subsidies: “Maybe DOGE Should Take a Look”

 

Donald Trump has launched a scathing rebuke of former ally Elon Musk, threatening to deploy the very agency Musk once led—DOGE—against him in a fiery tirade about government subsidies and the electric vehicle mandate. In a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning, Trump accused Musk of benefiting more from taxpayer money than any other individual in history, warning that without those subsidies, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO might be forced to shut down operations and “head back home to South Africa.”

 

“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote. “It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”

 

Trump’s comments come amid escalating tensions between the two men, which reportedly erupted over Trump’s latest legislative cornerstone — a massive federal spending package dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The president doubled down on his criticism, linking Musk’s success directly to federal support. “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,” Trump continued. “No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.”

 

The most pointed threat came next, as Trump invoked DOGE — the Department of Government Expenditures, a controversial agency founded during his first term and formerly led by Musk himself — to investigate the billions in government assistance granted to Musk’s companies. “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” Trump declared.

 

Musk, 54, has not remained silent in the face of Trump’s criticism. Over the weekend, the billionaire unleashed a flurry of posts on X condemning Trump’s bill as a betrayal of American innovation. “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Musk posted on Saturday. “Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”

 

Musk continued his barrage into Monday, blasting lawmakers who supported the legislation despite running on promises of fiscal conservatism. “They should hang their heads in shame!” he wrote. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

The SpaceX and Tesla chief even suggested that the nation had effectively become a “one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” and reiterated his call for a new political movement that truly supports innovation.

 

Sources close to both men say the fallout is recent but intense. Musk resigned from his post as DOGE director on May 29, just 130 days into Trump’s second term. Though Musk later issued a private apology for endorsing Trump’s impeachment during a peak in their dispute, Trump has hinted that reconciliation might still be on the table. For now, though, the battle lines are drawn — and DOGE, once Musk’s brainchild, may soon be weaponized against him.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP  2025-07-02

 

 

He's quite openly confirming how corrupt he is. If you are Trump's friend you get subsidies, and if you aren't your subsidies are cut....

This should be an interesting thread. Trump + Musk. Double derangement.  

1 hour ago, candide said:

He's quite openly confirming how corrupt he is. If you are Trump's friend you get subsidies, and if you aren't your subsidies are cut....

So he didn't get subsidies from Biden then?

".... subsidies, largely obtained under the presidency of Joe Biden (2021-2025), can be explained by the fact that Musk has invested in two sectors supported by the public authorities: the electric transition of the automobile and, above all, space ...."

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/02/27/elon-musk-s-empire-has-benefited-from-38-billion-in-contracts-and-government-aid_6738618_19.html

 

11 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

So he didn't get subsidies from Biden then?

It's a quite relevant comparison, indeed! 

 

Trump is openly threatening Musk to cut subsidies because he challenges and criticises Trump's policies ( it's not the first time, if I remember well).

 

Biden did not cut (or threatened to cut) subsidies when Musk openly supported Trump and strongly criticised Biden. QED

Seems it's a case of my subsidy is bigger than yours ! Interesting .....

Hope Elon sticks to his guns and gets some of trumps cronies thrown out of government.another thing about Elon,I despise the guy but at least he brings something to the table (starlink Tesla battery tec space X just to name a few) trump cartoons sneakers bibles toilet water fraud ect ect …..not to mention the divisive rhetoric and the threat to our democracy.

Real Housewives of DC!

 

This could turn into yet another semen-stained dress scandal.  American phenomenon.

 

Trump: “Deport Musk”; Musk: “Try Me and Watch What Happens”.

I see no downsides.

3 hours ago, candide said:

He's quite openly confirming how corrupt he is. If you are Trump's friend you get subsidies, and if you aren't your subsidies are cut....

For CRAP like this to have become normalized is FRIGHTENING! No government official should EVER be allowed to operate like this, much less POTUS.

 

Again, Murikkka has become the "frogs in a pot of water" and it's about to boil over.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

So he didn't get subsidies from Biden then?

".... subsidies, largely obtained under the presidency of Joe Biden (2021-2025), can be explained by the fact that Musk has invested in two sectors supported by the public authorities: the electric transition of the automobile and, above all, space ...."

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/02/27/elon-musk-s-empire-has-benefited-from-38-billion-in-contracts-and-government-aid_6738618_19.html

 

The headspace challenge is entirely one the rightwing needs to deal with.

 

Musk was their dream wingman to Trump until the bromance fell apart.

 

I have my seat on the left of the arena from which I can sit back and enjoy the spectacle of two of liberal America’s enemies knifing each other.

 

Incipiant ludi.

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

So he didn't get subsidies from Biden then?

".... subsidies, largely obtained under the presidency of Joe Biden (2021-2025), can be explained by the fact that Musk has invested in two sectors supported by the public authorities: the electric transition of the automobile and, above all, space ...."

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/02/27/elon-musk-s-empire-has-benefited-from-38-billion-in-contracts-and-government-aid_6738618_19.html

 

"Whataboutism" is such a WEAK argument. It's almost as if you had nothing better to use.

Without Musk , Trump would be weeping over his 2nd stolen election.

 

President Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric against Elon Musk, at one point suggesting that he could be interested in attempting to deport him.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/trump-musk-policy-bill-feud.html

 

Ooooo, will there be asset seizure?  

 

Just another reminder of one of the primary rules of life on Earth:

you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.  (Well, not publicly.)  Here is the moment it all fell apart.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

"Whataboutism" is such a WEAK argument. It's almost as if you had nothing better to use.

It's a historical fact. Facts that are ignored by those with a single deranged agenda. Attack and blams Trump for absolutely everythng.

Trump is now weaponising subsidies to bully and coerce opposition into compliance. Another authoritarian move. 

1 hour ago, FlorC said:

Without Musk , Trump would be weeping over his 2nd stolen election.

 

Without Comey he wouldn't have been president at all. Doesn't mean he is not attacking him.

46 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

It's a historical fact. Facts that are ignored by those with a single deranged agenda. Attack and blams Trump for absolutely everythng.

So Biden should have cut subsidies to Tesla and SpaceX when Musk started supporting Trump.

Trump won't cut Musk's subsidies. DOGE? Political theatre from Trump. Elon's not happy because the EV mandate is gone. Getting rid of the EV mandate is a good thing but obviously bites into Tesla profits.

Oh, a new chapter in the muppet show? 

Can't wait how it ends 😂

This like one of Musks rockets is going to blow up in trumps face .

Popcorn at the ready !!!

7 hours ago, dinsdale said:

This should be an interesting thread. Trump + Musk. Double derangement.  

 

Trump's posts are filled with hysteria, hyperbole, and exaggeration. It's not dignified for the US president to pump out this sort of unhinged commentary continuously.

In the history of the world has there ever been a man who is less tolerant of disagreement and criticism than Donald Trump? He diminishes himself every time he acts out like a petulant child when somebody disagrees with him. This is not the behavior of a real man, this is the sign of an ignorant punk bully. 

 

Musk is absolutely correct in making his feelings known about the big ugly bill, it was an absolute monstrosity. 

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

It's a historical fact. Facts that are ignored by those with a single deranged agenda. Attack and blams Trump for absolutely everythng.

And it's an historical fact that Biden did not cut or threaten to cut subsidies when Musk supported Trump and extensively criticised Biden.

That was my point.

Linking subsidies to political support is corrupt! 

4 minutes ago, candide said:

And it's an historical fact that Biden did not cut or threaten to cut subsidies when Musk supported Trump and extensively criticised Biden.

That was my point.

Linking subsidies to political support is corrupt! 

Let us know when Trump cuts Musk's subsidies will you. As for Trump subsidising and continuing to subsidise Musk linked to political support from Musk to Trump could you supply some evidence of this? Musk willingly endorsed and supported Trump in the election run up. He also knew that one of Trump's election promises was to do away with the EV mandate.

4 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Let us know when Trump cuts Musk's subsidies will you. As for Trump subsidising and continuing to subsidise Musk linked to political support from Musk to Trump could you supply some evidence of this? Musk willingly endorsed and supported Trump in the election run up. He also knew that one of Trump's election promises was to do away with the EV mandate.

Maybe he won't cut subsidies, but he's openly threatening to cut them.

 

And it's pure coincidence that these threats come up after Musk criticized Trump's policies... 🙂

9 hours ago, bendejo said:

President Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric against Elon Musk, at one point suggesting that he could be interested in attempting to deport him.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/trump-musk-policy-bill-feud.html

 

Ooooo, will there be asset seizure?  

 

Just another reminder of one of the primary rules of life on Earth:

you can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose.  (Well, not publicly.)  Here is the moment it all fell apart.

 

 

 

"And another thing. My hair is nicer than yours. So there."