Donald Trump says he will 'look' at deporting former backer Elon Musk as billionaire threatens to create new political party in protest of megabill
Donald Trump has threatened to revoke billions of dollars in subsidies that billionaire Elon Musk's companies receive from the federal government as the war of words between the President and the world's richest man continues to escalate.
On Tuesday (US time), Senate Republicans passed Trump's massive tax-and-spending bill by the narrowest of margins with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie breaking vote.
The package, dubbed the "big, beautiful bill" would slash taxes, reduce social safety programs and boost military and immigration enforcement spending while adding $3.3 trillion to the national debt.
The House of Representatives will now consider giving the legislation final approval, with a handful of Republicans there already voicing opposition to some of the Senate provisions.
However, the public stoush between the President and his former adviser exploded on Monday, with Musk launching renewed criticism of Trump's tax-cut and spending bill and pledging to form the 'America Party' the 'next day' if the spending bill passed Congress.
Trump early on Tuesday morning hit back at Musk, with the President writing on Truth Social that he could eliminate multi-billion-dollar contracts and other lucrative benefits the federal government gives to Musk's companies including Tesla, the US' leading EV producer.
'No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this. BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!,' Trump wrote.
"He's upset that he's losing his EV mandate and … he's very upset about things but he can lose a lot more than that," Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 30, 2025
Though Musk has often said government subsidies should be eliminated, Tesla has historically benefited from billions of dollars in tax credits because of its business in clean transportation and renewable energy.
Trump added in a separate Truth Social post that 'Elon would have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa", and when asked by reporters later in the morning if he would deport Musk, a naturalised US citizen, Trump said: 'We'll have to take a look.'
'We might have to put DOGE on Elon,' he said, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency that Musk previously spearheaded as a special government employee.
'You know what DOGE is? DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.'
The Tesla CEO also vowed to spend his wealth to unseat lawmakers who support the tax bill, with Republicans expressing concern that Musk's on-again, off-again feud with Trump could hurt their chances to protect their majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Responding to Trump's fresh comments, including the prospect of deportation, Musk wrote on social media that it was 'so, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back on Musk's criticism that the bill would balloon the deficit, saying, "I'll take care of" the country's finances.
Tesla shares dropped more than 5.5 per cent on Tuesday.
Trump wants to sign the megabill into law by the July 4 Independence Day holiday, and House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that he aimed to meet that deadline. - With Reuters
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Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger. Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. 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Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger. Hamas suggests it's open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel but is stopping short of accepting a US-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US leader has increased pressure on Israel and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war. Trump said the 60 days would be used to work towards ending the war, something Israel says it will not accept until Hamas is defeated. He said a deal might come together as soon as next week. But Hamas's response, which emphasised its demand that the war end, raised questions about whether the latest offer could become an actual pause in fighting. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the militant group was "ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement". Hamas was "ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war". A Hamas delegation is expected to meet Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss the proposal. Throughout the nearly 21-month-long war, ceasefire talks have faltered repeatedly over whether the war should end as part of any deal. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining 50 hostages, fewer than half of whom are said to be alive, in exchange for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Israel says it will agree to end the war only if Hamas surrenders, disarms and exiles itself, something the group refuses to do. An Israeli official said the latest proposal calls for a 60-day deal that would include a partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a surge in humanitarian aid to the territory. The mediators and the US would provide assurances about talks on an end to the war, but Israel was not committing to that as part of the latest proposal, the official said. It was not clear how many hostages would be freed as part of the agreement, but previous proposals have called for the release of about 10. Israel has yet to comment publicly on Trump's announcement. On Monday, Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House, days after Ron Dermer, a senior Netanyahu adviser, held discussions with top US officials about Gaza, Iran and other matters. On Tuesday, Trump wrote on social media that Israel had "agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War". "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said. Even before the expiration of the war's longest ceasefire in March, Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would include the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza's civilian populace. Still, Trump views the current moment as a potential turning point in the brutal conflict that has left more than 56,000 dead in the Palestinian territory. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. The war has left the Palestinian territory in ruins and has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushing hundreds of thousands of people towards hunger.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
‘Trigger warning': CNN delivers ‘sobering news' about Trump's historic approval
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