Former President Donald Trump has reignited his ongoing rivalry with tech billionaire Elon Musk, suggesting he may consider taking steps to deport the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
The comment came on Monday, July 1, during a press interaction, where Trump was asked about his recent tensions with Musk.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to take a look,” Trump responded when questioned on whether Musk’s naturalisation status could be revisited.
“He also made reference to DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, an agency Musk once oversaw, saying, “We might have to put DOGE on Elon.
“It’s the monster we created, and maybe now it needs to go back and eat him.”
The sharp remarks follow Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s signature legislative proposal known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
The proposed bill aims to overhaul federal spending but removes subsidies for electric vehicles, a move that directly affects Musk’s business empire.
While Trump’s comments appear to be politically charged rather than policy-driven, the idea of deporting Musk, who became a naturalised American citizen in 2002, has raised legal eyebrows.
Immigration experts note that revoking U.S. citizenship is rare and typically reserved for cases involving fraud or criminal misconduct at the time of naturalisation.
The spat marks another escalation in the war of words between the two high-profile figures, both of whom wield significant influence over U.S. policy, business, and public opinion.