Trump says DOGE may target Musk as their feud over the "big beautiful bill" intensifies, with Musk vowing to challenge GOP lawmakers.

Trump–Musk Rift Boils Over As GOP Faces Spending Showdown

President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his public feud with tech billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday, warning that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could “go back and eat Elon” as tensions over the president’s flagship “One Big Beautiful Bill” reached a new high. Trump’s comments came as he departed the White House for Florida, responding to questions about Musk’s mounting threats to primary any Republican lawmaker who votes for the multi-trillion-dollar spending package.

The dispute centers on the legislation’s $5 trillion debt ceiling increase, which Musk has denounced as reckless spending. In a series of viral posts on X, Musk called out lawmakers who promised fiscal restraint but now back what he described as the largest debt hike in American history. He warned that their faces would “be on this poster in the primary next year,” urging voters to unseat them.

Trump, for his part, took aim at Musk’s business empire, highlighting the vast government subsidies received by Tesla and SpaceX. “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more rocket launches, satellites, or electric car production, and our country would save a fortune,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, suggesting that DOGE should scrutinize Musk’s federal support.

The president also emphasized his long-standing opposition to electric vehicle mandates—a core concern for Musk as Tesla’s CEO. Trump has moved to terminate California’s strict EV and diesel mandates, signing resolutions he says will end “California mandates forever.” “Not everybody wants an electric car,” Trump said, citing a preference for consumer choice in the automotive market.

Musk Rallies Conservatives, GOP Divides Deepen

Musk’s opposition to the “big beautiful bill” aligns him with a handful of Republican lawmakers, including Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who share his concerns about the ballooning national debt. Musk argued that passing the bill would undermine government efficiency reforms led by DOGE, where he previously served as a special government employee. “Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,” Musk urged his millions of followers, calling for direct action to pressure Congress.

As the deadline for the bill approaches, Musk doubled down, declaring on X that the legislation proves the U.S. is run by a “PORKY PIG PARTY”—a single uniparty unconcerned with real fiscal restraint. “All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America,” he added, questioning the purpose of a debt ceiling if Congress simply raises it repeatedly.

Trump, meanwhile, dismissed Musk’s campaign as motivated by “losing his EV mandate,” and signaled that the DOGE unit might investigate Musk’s business dealings. “He could lose a lot more than that,” Trump told reporters, stoking speculation about future regulatory scrutiny or subsidy cuts.

The standoff underscores growing divisions within the GOP over fiscal policy, government intervention, and the influence of high-profile business leaders. With the “big beautiful bill” awaiting Senate approval and Musk threatening to upend Republican primaries, the feud between Trump and Musk has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over America’s economic and political future.