The American political scene has witnessed a sharp renewal of tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, following the Senate's passage of the “Big Beautiful Trump Bill” on Tuesday evening. This bill, considered one of Trump’s major legislative victories, is a sweeping tax and spending package aimed at reducing taxes, increasing defense spending, and bolstering border security, while simultaneously cutting back on social welfare programs such as health insurance support and food assistance for low-income families.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed strong disapproval of the new package, calling it an economic disaster that threatens the future of the U.S. economy. Musk described the bill as “political suicide” and “utterly destructive,” stating during a live broadcast on his platform X that the legislation “grants privileges to the industries of the past, while causing serious harm to the industries of the future,” in reference to sectors like technology and clean energy.
What makes this clash more striking is that it follows a period of political support—Musk was one of the most prominent backers of Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, contributing over $196 million to support his return to the White House. However, the “Big Beautiful Bill” has clearly caused a rift in this alliance, especially amid reports that Musk is considering the formation of a new “American Party” in response to policies he sees as threatening to innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Trump’s response was swift. On his platform, Truth Social, he launched a personal attack against Musk, pointing out that companies like Tesla have benefited significantly from government subsidies, stating, “Without that support, Musk would likely have had to shut down his businesses and return to South Africa.” When asked whether he would consider deporting Musk, Trump responded, “We’ll have to look into it,” a statement that sparked considerable controversy given that Musk has been a U.S. citizen for over two decades.
In response, Musk called Trump’s comments a “grave mistake” and “deeply disappointing” in a brief post on X, reflecting the escalating tensions between two of the most influential figures in American and global affairs.
Ultimately, this dispute highlights the complexity of political and economic alliances in the United States, and how intertwined interests don’t prevent sudden and dramatic shifts in stance—especially when future visions on issues like the economy, national debt, and social justice diverge so strongly.