On July 1, 2025, President Donald Trump escalated his feud with Elon Musk, threatening to turn the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk once led, against him, stating, “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” per CNN and Politico. The remark, made to reporters before departing for a Florida immigration detention center, followed Musk’s sharp criticism of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a massive tax cut and spending package that Musk called “political suicide” for Republicans, per NBC News. This article examines the Trump-Musk dispute, its roots, implications, and public reactions, drawing on sources like The New York Times, Fox News, and posts on X.
The Trump-Musk Feud
Trump’s comments came after Musk, a former key ally who spent over $250 million supporting Trump’s 2024 campaign through America PAC, publicly opposed the GOP bill on X, labeling it the “PORKY PIG PARTY” bill for raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, per Fox News. Musk, who stepped down from leading DOGE in May 2025 to focus on Tesla and SpaceX, argued the bill undermines DOGE’s cost-cutting mission, which aimed to slash $1 trillion from the federal budget but achieved only $175 billion, per The Washington Post. He threatened to fund primary challenges against Republicans supporting the bill, including endorsing Rep. Thomas Massie, per Boston News.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, suggested DOGE could scrutinize Musk’s companies, which have received $38 billion in government subsidies, claiming, “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back to South Africa,” per NBC News. Asked about deporting Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen, Trump said, “I don’t know, we’ll have to take a look,” per Axios. Musk responded on X, saying, “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now,” per CNN.
Roots of the Conflict
The dispute centers on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which passed the House 215–214 and faces Senate debate. It includes Trump’s 2017 tax cut extensions, no tax on tips, and cuts to clean energy incentives, adding $3.3 trillion to the deficit over a decade, per CBS News. Musk, who initially supported Trump’s agenda, criticized the bill’s deficit increase and provisions like the removal of EV tax credits, though he denied this was his primary concern, per The Guardian. Trump countered that Musk’s opposition stems from losing EV mandates, which could impact Tesla, per Fox News.
Musk’s DOGE tenure, marked by 275,000 federal layoffs and legal challenges, drew criticism for disrupting agencies, per CNBC. His exit in May followed Tesla’s 71% profit drop and a 21% stock decline in 2025, per The New York Times. The feud, reignited after a brief truce, highlights tensions between Trump’s spending priorities and Musk’s fiscal conservatism.
Implications
Trump’s threat to “sic” DOGE on Musk could lead to investigations into Tesla and SpaceX’s contracts, risking financial losses for Musk, whose net worth dropped $100 billion in 2025, per CBS News. Tesla shares fell 6% pre-market on July 1, per NBC News. Musk’s threat to form an “America Party” if the bill passes could disrupt the GOP’s 2026 midterms, leveraging his $275 million political war chest, per Review Journal. X posts like @KFILE and @Osint613 reflect the feud’s intensity, with Trump warning, “Elon shouldn’t be playing that game with me,” per.
Public and Market Reactions
X users are divided: @saraecook noted Trump’s subsidy jab, while @ShaykhSulaiman highlighted potential savings from targeting Musk’s contracts, per. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent downplayed the feud on Fox News, focusing on the bill’s necessity, per NBC News. The dispute underscores GOP fractures, with fiscal hawks like Sen. Rand Paul opposing the bill’s “wimpy” cuts, per The Guardian.
What This Means
The Trump-Musk clash could reshape GOP dynamics and federal policy. If the bill passes, Musk’s political pivot could challenge Republican unity, while Trump’s DOGE threat risks alienating a key donor. Follow updates on www.cnn.com or X, and monitor Tesla’s stock on www.nasdaq.com for market impacts.
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