"Trump taunts Musk: 'Go back to South Africa' amid third-party threat"

Trump vs Musk Feud Escalates Amid Senate Tax Bill Showdown

The simmering feud between former US President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk erupted into full-blown hostility on Tuesday, as the Senate debated a controversial tax cut and spending bill backed by Trump.

In a scathing post on Truth Social, Trump accused Musk of depending heavily on government handouts to sustain his business empire, suggesting that without federal support, Musk would have “closed up shop and headed back to South Africa.”

“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far,” Trump wrote. “Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to shut down his companies. No more rockets, satellites, or electric cars—and the country would save a fortune.”

The attack followed Musk’s threat to launch a new political party, in protest against what he labeled an “insane spending bill.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Tesla and SpaceX CEO declared, “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE.”

He also pointed to a poll where 80% of respondents voted in favor of creating a new party, quoting the Latin phrase, “Vox Populi, Vox Dei”—"The voice of the people is the voice of God."

Political Tensions and Personal Jabs

The latest flashpoint in the Trump-Musk rivalry centers on Trump’s proposed multitrillion-dollar bill, which would lower taxes while ramping up spending on defense and border security—largely at the expense of social welfare programs like Medicaid and food assistance.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that Republican leaders were “working toward the end game,” after a marathon voting session that stretched overnight. Meanwhile, Democrats condemned the proposed Medicaid cuts, forcing clerks to read the bill aloud in protest.

Despite the bill’s uncertain fate in the House, Trump has demanded its passage by the Fourth of July. Speaker Mike Johnson now faces stiff resistance from within his own party.

Musk, who donated over $275 million to Trump and GOP candidates during the 2024 elections, has been vocal in his opposition, calling the bill “debt slavery” and accusing it of favoring outdated industries while undermining future-oriented sectors like clean energy and tech.

The once-amicable relationship between the two has deteriorated rapidly. Tensions peaked last month when Musk referred to Trump’s bill as a “disgusting abomination,” prompting Trump to lash out during a public appearance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saying he was “very disappointed” in Musk.

Musk hit back, claiming his support had helped Trump win key states like Pennsylvania in 2024, and that Republicans would have fared worse in the Senate without him.

Trump then retaliated by proposing cuts to Tesla’s subsidies and federal contracts, saying it would save “billions of dollars.”

“Elon was wearing thin,” Trump wrote. “I asked him to leave, I took away the EV mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars, and he went crazy.”

Musk briefly escalated the fight by suggesting—via a now-deleted post—that Trump appeared in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking scandal. He later backtracked, admitting the comment “went too far.”

The feud between Trump and Musk now represents more than just clashing egos—it reflects deep divisions over the future of U.S. policy on innovation, energy, and governance. With the Senate bill still hanging in the balance and a potential new political party on the horizon, the next few weeks could reshape the American political landscape.