Afrasianet - U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that the Government Efficiency Administration consider cutting subsidies for Tesla CEO Elon Musk 's companies in order to save up federal government funds.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Elon probably gets more support than anyone in history, and by a wide margin, without support, he would probably have had to stop his business and return home to South Africa."
"No more rocket launches, no more satellites, no more electric cars, and our country will save a fortune. Maybe we should get the Government Efficiency Department to take a hard look at this? It's a lot of money that can be saved!!."
In response to Trump's proposal, Musk wrote defiantly: "Cut everything off now."
Last month, the differences between Trump and Musk escalated and came to light, after a close alliance between the two men, and the dispute ended without restoring relations with Musk apologizing to the US president and Trump saying that Musk is a "wonderful and successful man."
The reason for the dispute
Trump said Musk was angry with him because he had "ended policies to encourage the purchase of electric cars."
Musk criticized the latest version of Trump's sweeping bill to cut taxes and spending ahead of a vote in the Senate, explaining that it is "political suicide for the Republican Party and will destroy millions of jobs in the country."
Musk funded much of Trump's presidential campaign and was later hired as the president's top adviser, leading a controversial effort to downsize the federal workforce and cut spending before leaving the administration in May.
Their differences began when Musk criticized Trump's tax and spending cuts bill.
"Close your shop and go back to your hometown!" Trump begins to tighten the noose on Musk
US President Donald Trump has attacked the electric vehicle mandate and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, claiming that the latter receives "more government subsidies than anyone else in history."
Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: "Elon Musk knew, long before he strongly supported me for the presidency of the United States, that I was strongly opposed to the EV Mandate."
"This mandate is absurd, and it has always been an essential part of my election campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one," he said, accusing Musk of "getting more government subsidies than anyone in history, by a wide margin."
"Without these subsidies, Elon may have to close his company and return home to South Africa. There will be no more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country will provide enormous wealth."
"Maybe we should ask the DOGE (Musk's Department of Government Efficiency) to take a closer and serious look at this? There is a lot of money that can be saved."
"Cut everything off now," Musk Trump replied, referring to government support for his companies.
"All I'm asking is that we don't bankrupt America," he wrote in a post on Platform X, asking: "What's the point of the debt ceiling if we keep raising it?".
Trump threatens Musk with a "terrifying monster capable of devouring him"!
US President Donald Trump also announced that he does not rule out the deportation of billionaire Elon Musk to his hometown in South Africa.
Before heading to the opening of a new immigration detention center in Florida, Trump said in response to a reporter's question: "We'll see. We may have to pit the U.S. government efficiency department against Elon. Do you know what U.S. government efficiency management is? She's a monster capable of devouring Elon himself, that would be horrible."