The escalating public confrontation between Donald Trump and Elon Musk goes beyond the usual rhetoric. Recent statements by the US President indicate a possible escalation of the conflict in the institutional plane. Questions include federal subsidies for Musk's companies, his legal status in the country, and even the possibility of deportation.
Amid criticism from Elon Musk about the new Republican spending bill, Donald Trump again turned to the topic of personal relations with the billionaire. According to him, Musk is "upset" about the reduction in government subsidies that Tesla used. The President made it clear that the loss of these preferences is only the beginning: "He has a lot more to lose."
Trump recalled that previously discussed the need to audit all federal funds aimed at supporting companies associated with Musk. In particular, he mentioned a government department that existed in the past called DOGE, initiated at the suggestion of Musk himself. Now Trump calls him a "monster" who ,in his words, " may come back and eat Elon."
The most resonant statement was made by Trump in response to a question about the possibility of deportation of Musk: "I do not know, we need to study this issue." Although such a scenario seems highly unlikely, the mere presence of such rhetoric on the part of a political leader is already putting pressure on the billionaire's reputation and the business strategies of the companies he controls.
Elon Musk, in turn, previously harshly condemned the bill promoted by Trump, calling it "disgusting abomination". The response was not long in coming: Trump threatened Musk with "business closure" and reminded him of his South African origin. "If he loses his subsidies, he will probably have to close the shop and return home to South Africa."- said the ex-president.
A separate episode in this confrontation was the incident with NASA. In June, Musk made a public threat to stop using the Dragon spacecraft by SpaceX for missions to the International Space Station. The move could leave NASA without a functioning U.S. manned vehicle. However, the head of SpaceX later abandoned this idea. Against the background of these events, Trump said that he considers relations with Musk completed and warned: "If he starts funding the Democrats, the consequences will be serious".
The conflict between Trump and Musk is not just a personal skirmish between two influential figures. It reflects a deeper transformation of the U.S. political landscape, where the boundaries between public administration, private business, and public policy are becoming increasingly blurred. Musk, who oversees companies critical to defense, infrastructure, and space exploration, remains a figure whose loyalties and behavior have drawn increased attention from political circles.
At the current stage, the question remains: will this conflict escalate into real administrative actions or will it remain in the zone of public threats and political rhetoric? At a minimum, the business environment and the market will have to take into account the unstable nature of these relationships when assessing the risks associated with the projects of Tesla, SpaceX and other structures that are part of the orbit of influence of Elon Musk.
