In a remarkable escalation of their public feud, former allies Donald Trump and Elon Musk have turned sharply against one another in recent days, with Trump suggesting that Musk should be investigated by the very government agency the billionaire once led. Trump’s comments, delivered via his Truth Social account, allege that Musk has benefited from an unprecedented level of US government subsidies and should face scrutiny from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk chaired until his recent resignation.

The clash comes on the heels of Musk’s increasingly vocal opposition to Trump’s flagship “Big, Beautiful Budget Bill,” a sprawling 940-page legislative package that proposes raising the federal debt ceiling by $5 trillion. Musk has denounced the bill as reckless, claiming it erases the progress made by DOGE under his leadership to curb excessive government spending.

Elon Musk and Donald Trump have enjoyed an uneasy alliance over the years, characterized by mutual admiration punctuated by deep ideological differences. Their relationship took a notable downturn last month when Musk stepped down from his position at DOGE. The split, according to sources familiar with internal discussions, was precipitated by disagreements over the administration’s increasing appetite for debt and its continued support for electric vehicle (EV) subsidies – a cornerstone of Musk’s business empire.

Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, did not mince words in a July 1 post on X (formerly Twitter), where he excoriated members of Congress who voted for the debt ceiling increase.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame,” Musk wrote.

“And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk also used the moment to renew his call for a third political force, advocating for the formation of an “America Party” that would serve as an alternative to what he described as the “Democrat-Republican uniparty.” The call resonated with segments of disaffected voters but drew sharp criticism from Trump and his allies, who see the move as a betrayal.

Trump, never one to leave an attack unanswered, responded with characteristic bombast. On Truth Social, he blasted Musk’s companies for their reliance on federal funding, sarcastically suggesting that without taxpayer dollars, Musk would be forced to shut down and “head back home to South Africa.”

“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop,” Trump wrote.

“Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

Trump’s comments raise eyebrows given Musk’s previous role at DOGE, a federal agency created under Trump’s first term to audit inefficiencies in government spending. That Musk, once entrusted with overseeing budgetary discipline, is now the subject of an investigation Trump is proposing has deepened the rift between the two figures.

The former president also reiterated his opposition to the federal EV mandate, positioning himself as a champion of consumer choice.

“Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,” he stated.

It is indisputable that Musk’s companies have received significant support from US taxpayers over the past two decades. According to various watchdog groups, Tesla, SpaceX, and other Musk-linked ventures have collectively benefited from more than $10 billion in direct grants, tax incentives, and government contracts. These include Department of Energy loans, state-level EV subsidies, and lucrative NASA launch agreements.

Critics argue that this support was vital in spurring American innovation, particularly in clean energy and space exploration, sectors where Musk has played a transformative role. Supporters of Trump’s position, however, claim that the subsidy ecosystem has become bloated and that Musk’s denunciation of government spending is hypocritical given his dependence on it.

Trump’s pivot toward investigating Musk is also being interpreted as an attempt to reassert dominance over the populist conservative movement at a time when his economic policies are facing growing skepticism from the right. By casting Musk as an example of “corporate welfare gone wild,” Trump may be seeking to reclaim his mantle as an anti-establishment reformer.

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, remains one of the more controversial elements of Trump’s legacy. Initially conceived as a lean task force aimed at slashing red tape and rooting out wasteful programs, DOGE quickly gained prominence under Musk’s leadership, earning both praise and suspicion for its aggressive tactics and lack of transparency.

Musk’s departure from DOGE last month signaled growing tension with Trump’s administration, especially over the ballooning size of the new budget proposal. With Trump now calling for DOGE to scrutinize its former chief, questions abound over the agency’s impartiality and direction moving forward.

It is currently unclear who will replace Musk as head of DOGE, but insiders suggest that Trump is considering several candidates known for their fiscal hawkishness – a sign that the agency may pivot back to traditional Republican orthodoxy on spending.

The war of words between Trump and Musk could have far-reaching implications for the 2026 midterms and beyond. Musk’s increasing alignment with a centrist-libertarian brand of politics may pull tech-savvy and independent voters away from both major parties. Meanwhile, Trump’s doubling down on nationalist economic rhetoric is likely to energize his base but may alienate swing voters concerned about deficit spending and government overreach.

As of now, neither side appears willing to de-escalate. Musk has continued posting critiques of the Trump budget and teasing future political action. Trump, for his part, remains steadfast in his view that Musk’s companies are a drain on public resources and should be scrutinized accordingly.

Whether this feud burns out or reshapes the American political landscape remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the battle between Donald Trump and Elon Musk has become more than a personal spat – it’s a proxy war over the future of government, industry, and political power in the United States.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings