Latest news with #TrumpMuskRift
Al Bawaba
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Al Bawaba
Trump threatens Elon Musk with deportation and subsidy cuts
Published July 1st, 2025 - 03:05 GMT The fallout marks a dramatic reversal in the relationship between the two figures. Musk was once a key supporter of Trump's campaign and served as head of the administration's government efficiency task force. ALBAWABA- A deepening rift between President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk escalated dramatically this week after Trump publicly threatened to deport Musk and strip his companies of government subsidies. Also Read Elon Musk slams GOP as "porky pig party" The threat came in response to Musk's fierce criticism of a Republican-backed debt ceiling bill and what he described as the 'one-party rule' in Washington. Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.01.25 12:44 AM EST Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be… — Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 1, 2025 In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Musk of hypocrisy, highlighting the substantial government support Tesla and SpaceX have received over the years. 'Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV mandate. It is ridiculous,' Trump wrote. 'Elon may get more subsidies 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. No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production.' Trump added a veiled suggestion to his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to investigate Musk's federal funding, stating: 'BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!' The remarks follow Musk's scathing critique of a bill passed by the Republican-led Congress that raised the U.S. debt ceiling by a record $5 trillion. Though Trump hailed the bill as a 'GREAT, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,' Musk slammed it as a betrayal of conservative fiscal values. In a string of posts on X, Musk called the GOP the 'Porky Pig Party,' accusing lawmakers of abandoning promises to cut spending. 'Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame,' he wrote. He also challenged the conservative Freedom Caucus, asking, 'How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill?' The fallout marks a dramatic reversal in the relationship between the two figures. Musk was once a key supporter of Trump's campaign and served as head of the administration's government efficiency task force. However, he resigned from the role several weeks ago, citing growing disillusionment with the administration's economic direction and rising government spending. Trump's threat to deport Musk, who is a U.S. citizen, and target his business interests has sparked widespread concern among political observers, with some calling it a dangerous overreach of presidential power. Legal experts noted that the threat has no legal grounding and likely serves as political retaliation for Musk's growing opposition. Nonetheless, the incident highlights Trump's willingness to publicly turn against former allies and use state power to punish dissent. Also Read Trump lifts sanctions on Syria in major policy shift In recent months, Trump has increasingly used confrontational rhetoric to advance his political agenda. His latest statements add to a list of controversial moves, including threats to seize the Panama Canal, annex Canada as the 51st U.S. state, expand military operations in the Middle East, and pursue far-reaching deportation plans. Critics warn that the president's behavior reflects a governing style rooted in personal loyalty and coercion rather than policy or law. Musk, meanwhile, has continued to signal a broader political shift, calling for the creation of a new party that 'actually cares about the people.' His campaign to challenge the Republican establishment has gained traction among disaffected voters, particularly fiscal conservatives angered by rising debt and unchecked federal spending. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Us and the Bickering in Washington
What links the ongoing rift between US President Donald Trump and his 'fleeting ally,' billionaire Elon Musk, the visible divergences between US positions and the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, and the looming clouds over the approach of the US and Israel to Iran? This question deserves serious reflection if we overcome highly costly illusions. There is no doubt that the Trump-Musk dispute has dangerous implications, regardless of who is right or wrong. It reflects two 'problems' that many Arab apologists refuse to acknowledge: The first problem is that Trump is a dealmaker with little regard for institutions. He shows no concern for the norms of engaging with allies and opponents, and he has no qualms about ruling through executive orders, even if this comes at the expense of consensus and collective responsibility, which statesmen are expected to prioritize over partisan loyalties... to say nothing about loyalty is to a circle of friends, cronies, donors, and fixers. Accordingly, the political costs of the 'tactical alliance' between the president and an unruly businessman, who mocks politicians, the government, and even the public to deliver results and secure a quick knockout win, have quickly become apparent. Even their shared view of what constitutes government waste and how to curb it evaporated as soon as the high social and economic costs came to light. In fact, these costs had only been temporarily masked by the MAGA bases' penchant for contradictory populist slogans. It's worth remembering that Musk did not obtain his temporary job by winning an election. He was appointed by Trump, meaning that Trump bears direct responsibility for the current dysfunction and for any future fallout. The second problem is that many of Trump's second-term appointees could easily meet the same fate as Musk. Rumors are swirling about members of Trump's cabinet, his advisors, and his aides. While one of them, Mike Waltz, has already been removed from his position as National Security Advisor, a number of the Trump team composed of circles of friends, Fox News alumni, golf buddies, lobbies, and major donors are not on stable ground. The key reason, in my view, is that most of them are 'political operatives,' not statesmen. They have no real grasp of strategic US interests. This vulnerability has become increasingly apparent in the administration's ad-hoc approach to Western Europe, Russia, and China. In the Middle East, the picture is more muddled than ever. Arab, Israeli, and Iranian dynamics are more confused than at any time since the Camp David Accords. While it used to be taken for granted that Washington and Tel Aviv would adopt nearly indistinguishable positions under certain Republican and Democratic administrations, very serious questions are now being raised. Chief among them is whether Washington still holds the final say on Israel's regional decisions or if the Likud-led far-right now sets its own agenda, with the US happy to merely placate Israel through a UN veto here or a meaningless arms deal there. Furthermore, does Washington truly wish to 'correct the mistake' of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, averting further fragmentation in the Middle East, as one of its diplomats recently claimed? Or has it effectively endorsed, or at least acquiesced to, the extreme Israeli right's project of division, disintegration, and displacement? How does Washington see the region's ethnic, religious, and sectarian minorities as it engages with mosaic societies that have overwhelming Arab and Muslim majorities, while navigating its relations with three non-Arab powers? Each of these powers has its own interests and ways to manipulate its affiliates and exploit their entanglements. Iran has made no secret of intention to export Khomeini's revolution. Until the regional priorities of both Washington and Tel Aviv become clear, Iran will remain an influential player in three countries, though it has effectively lost control over Syria. As for Türkiye, which is now widely seen as aligned with the new leadership in Damascus and enjoys significant popular and sectarian support in Syria, it is proceeding cautiously. Ankara understands the need to remain mindful of Israeli, American, and Russian considerations. In fact, the questions around who 'holds the cards' in Syria between the Israelis and Americans, could delay solutions for the country's political and its economic reconstruction after 14 years of war and 54 years of dictatorship. And now we come to Israel or 'the tail that wags the lion'! The recent Israeli strike on Beirut, along with its insistence on displacing Gaza's population, confirm that Tel Aviv's priorities have not meaningfully changed. While Washington offers the Lebanese soft words about supporting their new president and its envoy Ambassador Tom Barrack (of Lebanese origin) flirts with the Syrians and stresses Trump administration's commitment to 'Syria's unity,' Israel's military and intelligence machine continues to operate in Lebanon, Syria, and what remains of Palestine. The most striking revelation came just last week in a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz that sheds light on Tel Aviv's recruitment of rogue 'ISIS-affiliated' thugs to loot humanitarian aid convoys headed for Gaza. Israeli spokespeople then tell international media outlets that the looters are Hamas fighters themselves. According to Haaretz, Netanyahu personally confirmed what the paper had reported months earlier: his government had armed, funded, and protected criminal gangs in southern Gaza, because 'anything that undermines the rule of Hamas benefits us'! Thus, after years of creating proxy militias across borders and planting undercover agents disguised as Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza to commit crimes that deepen domestic schisms, Israel is now empowering 'starvation thugs', who are looting humanitarian aid in broad daylight. Washington is lost in its own confusion, and the instability and chaos with the administration have clearly played a key role in fueling this situation.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Donald Trump says relationship with Elon Musk over after feud as JD Vance brands Space X boss 'so nuclear'
Donald Trump has signalled his relationship with Elon Musk is over following their explosive public falling-out. When asked if the relationship between the two former close friends and allies was over, the US president told NBC News: 'I would assume so, yeah.' When pressed on whether he wanted to repair the rift, he said, 'No.' It comes after a dramatic bust-up between President Trump and the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who once sat at the heart of the administration. Vice President JD Vance accused Musk of going 'so nuclear', telling podcaster Theo Von that this was 'a big mistake' and that Musk may never be welcomed back into Republican circles. Musk previously pumped an estimated $250 million into Trump's re-election campaign and briefly served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). The rift began when the tech billionaire turned on his former ally over the president's flagship tax-and-spend policy, the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Musk expressed concerns that the bill would bloat the deficit and unravel Doge's spending cuts. The rift escalated dramatically after he left the department after a short 129-day stint, taking to X to slam the bill as a 'disgusting abomination.' Trump said he was 'disappointed' in Musk's conduct, sparking an explosive social media tit-for-tat between the pair. Musk claimed Trump would be lost without him and referenced unproven links between Trump and the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The post was deleted, and Epstein's lawyer has publicly denied the allegations. Trump hit back on Truth Social, branding Musk 'crazy' and warning he may terminate the billionaire's federal contracts. He told NBC 'He's been disrespectful to the office of the president. It's a very bad thing.' Musk has hinted he might back Republican challengers, and even Democrats, in the upcoming midterms. Trump warned of 'serious consequences' if Musk supports opposition candidates. The US President Donald Trump looked to put the feud aside as he attended UFC event at the Prudential Centre in New Jersey on Saturday night. Mr Trump was accompanied by UFC president Dana White and the pair headed to their cage-side seats for UFC 316 to Kid Rock's track American Bad Ass. Mr Trump and Mr White did the same for UFC's card last November at Madison Square Garden - only then they were joined by Mr Musk. On Saturday, Mr Trump shook hands with fans and supporters - a heavyweight line-up that included retired boxing great Mike Tyson - on his way to the cage. He was joined by his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, along with son Eric Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
NHK
07-06-2025
- Business
- NHK
Trump says he has no plans to speak with Musk
US President Donald Trump has dismissed the idea of trying to fix his relationship with billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk anytime soon, in a sign of a deepening rift between the once close allies. Musk resigned from a key government post late last month. Their relationship has since been rapidly deteriorating over Trump's signature bill featuring tax cuts, which Musk has harshly criticized. The pair have been trading barbs on social media. On Friday, Trump told reporters he has been so busy working on many issues that he isn't thinking about Musk. He added, "I just wish him well." Asked whether he has any plans to speak with Musk, Trump said, "I don't have any plans," and added he is not even thinking about that. Trump also said Musk gets a lot of subsidies, hinting again at the possibility of reviewing government contracts with Musk's businesses. Meanwhile, Musk floated the idea of founding a new political party, citing the results of a poll on his social media platform X. He said in a post: "A new political party is needed in America to represent the 80% in the middle! And exactly 80% of people agree. This is fate."
