Trump and Musk Engage in Heated Feud Over Big Beautiful Bill

Donald Trump and Elon Musk are locked in a bitter feud over the "big, beautiful bill" that would scrap the electric vehicle tax credit and cancel government subsidies for SpaceX and its satellite arm, Starlink. Trumpwarned that Musk might have to "head back home to South Africa" if subsidies dry up, while Musk fired back with posts on X, accusing Trump of wanting to "hit the debt ceiling to force the government to cut waste and fraud." The debate has put competing pressures on Republican members of Congress, with Trump threatening to support primary challengers of lawmakers who oppose the legislation.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump's bill would scrap the electric vehicle tax credit, potentially hurting Tesla's bottom line.
• Elon Musk might have to close up shop and return to South Africa if government subsidies dry up, according to Trump.
• Musk has upped the ante in the feud, accusing Trump of wanting to increase the national debt by $5 trillion.
• Trump has hinted at yanking government contracts for SpaceX and its satellite arm, Starlink.
• Musk has said he would work to primary any lawmaker who campaigned on reducing government spending but votes to pass the megabill.
• Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame, according to Musk.
• Trump has threatened to support primary challengers of lawmakers who oppose the legislation.

Statistics:

• The "big, beautiful bill" would increase the national debt by a record $5 trillion, according to Musk.
• Trump claims that the failure to pass the bill would result in a 68% tax increase, although there is no credible analysis to support this claim.
• Elon Musk has donated to re-elect congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican opponent of the bill whom Trump is trying to unseat.
• Trump has say that the "One Big Beautiful Bill" gives the largest tax cuts and border security ever, jobs by the millions, and military/vets increases.
• The bill is being debated in the Senate, with senators engaging in a late-night vote-a-rama on amendments.

Sources:

• https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-is-doing-everything-he-can-to-derail-trumps-megabill/
• https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114776149269773065
• https://www.thedailybeast.com/maga-ad-launches-full-scale-attack-on-renegade-republican/
• https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939920087877919115
• https://www.factcheck.org/2025/06/explaining-trumps-claim-of-a-68-tax-increase/
• https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-unleashes-his-most-menacing-threat-to-elon-musk-yet/