Elon Musk Responds to Trump’s ‘Back Home to South Africa’ Comments

A fresh war of words has broken out between Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump over a controversial federal spending bill. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, responded sharply after Trump criticized him on Truth Social, suggesting the billionaire only succeeded because of government subsidies.

The tension stems from Trump’s recently proposed “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” which aims to massively expand federal spending. Musk, who is against rising national debt, called it a dangerous move. He also hinted at creating a new “America Party” as an alternative to both Republicans and Democrats.

Trump’s Harsh Words

In his post on Truth Social, Trump accused Musk of being overly dependent on U.S. government support. He wrote that Musk would “probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa” if not for federal subsidies, especially for electric vehicles.

When asked later if he would consider deporting Musk, Trump said, “We’ll have to look.”

Musk Fires Back

Elon Musk quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter), calling Trump’s statement “just plain wrong” and adding, “So disappointing.”

Musk became a naturalized American citizen in 2002 and has since become one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the country. He has often spoken out against excessive government control and spending, despite the fact that some of his companies have received federal contracts and tax incentives.

The Political Feud Grows

This is not the first time the two high-profile figures have clashed. However, the recent disagreement has drawn more attention due to the scale of Trump’s bill and Musk’s growing influence in American politics. Musk’s suggestion of forming an “America Party” shows his interest in playing a larger role in future elections.