Washington: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday renewed his criticism of Elon Musk, suggesting that the billionaire entrepreneur would "head back home to South Africa" if federal subsidies for electric vehicles were eliminated. Trump's comments were directed at Musk, a former close ally and major campaign donor, as tensions between the two continue to escalate.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's remarks came after Musk openly criticized Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which proposed significant cuts to electric vehicle and clean energy credits. Musk described the cuts as "incredibly destructive" and warned that such moves could be "political suicide for the Republican Party." Trump, however, reiterated his longstanding opposition to the EV mandate, arguing that while electric cars are acceptable, they should not be mandated for everyone.
The ongoing debate centers around the federal credits that incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles, aiming to promote environmentally friendly transportation options. While there is no legislation mandating the ownership of electric vehicles, these credits play a significant role in encouraging consumers to choose them over traditional vehicles.
On social media platform X, Musk further criticized the bill and expressed dismay at those who campaigned on cutting spending but supported the proposed legislation. He suggested they should "hang their heads in shame" and predicted they would face challenges in upcoming campaign primaries.
Trump's social media posts also targeted Musk's SpaceX contracts with the US government, questioning the financial implications of continuing such partnerships. He suggested that government spending could be significantly reduced by halting space-related initiatives, hinting at the potential for savings.
The mention of DOGE, referring to the Department of Government Efficiency, highlighted the unofficial initiative led by Musk aimed at reducing government size. The effort was fraught with controversy, including the firing and rehiring of critical government workers, unproven claims of waste, and a failure to achieve promised savings. Musk's departure from his government role in May was followed by a public fallout with Trump, particularly over the president's "Big Beautiful Bill."