Trump-Musk Feud: Musk Says Trump’s Comments About Him Are ‘Just Plain Wrong’

Topline

Elon Musk on Wednesday suggested president Donald Trump’s criticism of subsidies received by his companies was wrong, as he continued to mock supporters of the president’s signature spending bill, a day after the president said he’ll look into potentially deporting the Tesla CEO and threatened probes into his companies amid a reignited feud between the two.

President Trump Holds Press Conference With Elon Musk in White House's Oval Office — Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump to reporters in the Oval Office of the White House.

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Key Facts

In a post on X, Musk responded to a tweet criticizing the president’s Truth Social post bashing him and threatening to scrap federal subsidies received by his companies, writing that remarks were: “Just plain wrong…So disappointing.”

The billionaire also made a post urging people to follow a meme account posting screenshots of old tweets by GOP lawmakers criticizing the national debt alongside posts made on Tuesday hailing the passage of the Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Musk’s late night posts were not all critical of Trump, however, as the billionaire reshared the president’s Truth Social post about Israel agreeing to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and wrote: “Credit where credit is due…[Trump] has successfully resolved several serious conflicts around the world.”

Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday, Trump was asked if he’ll deport the South African-born billionaire, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, and said: “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look.”

According to the Daily Mail’s Emily Goodin, Trump said he might have to “put DOGE on Elon…DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” referring to the cost-cutting agency that was the brainchild of Musk.

“I don’t think he should be playing that game with me,” Trump warned Musk in late morning comments to reporters, confirming he’ll order DOGE to “look at Musk.”

Replying to a video of the Trump deportation threat, Musk wrote “so tempting to escalate this,” but he would “refrain for now,” though he ominously added, “Physics sees through all lies perfectly.”

What Do We Know About Musk’s Attacks On Trump’s Spending Bill?

Musk attacked the spending bill in a series of posts on X on Monday night and early Tuesday morning, saying: “Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending,” and backed the mega bill “will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.” Musk later said anyone who votes for the legislation after campaigning “on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING” will see their face on a poster of Pinocchio with the caption “LIAR” followed by the text “Voted to increase America’s Debt by $5,000,000,000,000.”

What Do We Know About Musk’s Vow To Form A Third Party?

On Monday, the billionaire tweeted, “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day,” as he bashed what he described as the “Democrat-Republican uniparty.” The X owner later reshared the results of an unscientific poll he conducted on the platform last month during his public blow-up with the president and wrote “VOX POPULI VOX DEI 80% voted for a new party.” On Tuesday, Musk reshared a post made by the betting market Kalshi, which showed that bookmakers believe there’s a 41% chance of Musk forming a new political party in 2025.

What Did Trump Say In Response To Musk’s Criticism?

The president first responded to Musk’s tirade against the spending bill and its supporters with a post on his Truth Social platform early on Tuesday where he threatened to scrap government subsidies provided to the billionaire’s companies. Trump wrote: “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.” Trump then claimed: “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. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.” The president suggested the Department of Government Efficiency—which was previously led by Musk—should “take a good, hard, look” at the subsidies offered to companies like SpaceX and Tesla. Musk shot back on X, by daring Trump to slash the subsidies: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”

Tangent

While criticizing the backers of the spending bill, Musk also boosted some of its prominent critics within the GOP, including some who have been the targets of Trump’s ire. Musk retweeted a post by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who Trump called a “Third Rate Congressman,” which said: “‘BBB’ = our credit rating if this bill becomes law.” Musk then vowed to support Massie’s reelection bid next year. Musk also reshared posts made by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., whom Trump threatened to primary before he announced his decision not to seek reelection. Tillis had reshared a Musk post which appeared to criticize the spending bill for targeting solar and battery tech, and wrote: “Folks, Elon Musk is 100% right, and he understands this issue better than anyone. We should take his warnings seriously.” Earlier on Monday, Musk had attacked the GOP and the spending bill, tweeting: “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!”

Big Number

6%. That’s how much shares of Tesla dropped in premarket trading in response to the battle between its CEO and Trump.

Key Background

Musk, who left his role as a Trump administration “special government employee” in May, has since attacked the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” backed by the president and the House GOP. The billionaire previously described himself as Trump’s “first buddy,” but eventually directed his ire directly at the president by sharing older clips of Trump bashing Republicans for raising the debt ceiling. The feud escalated after the president accused Musk of having “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a phrase he often uses to target his critics. This launched a social media war between them, during which Trump threatened to scrap Musk’s government contracts. The billionaire retorted with a now-deleted tweet alleging without evidence that Trump’s name was in the Epstein files. Both individuals appeared to have reached a detente until Monday, with Musk even tweeting he regretted some of his “posts about President Donald Trump,” which he said “went too far.”