Trump Threatens to ‘Review’ Elon Musk’s Citizenship Amid Bitter Feud Over EV Tax Bill
U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated his public feud with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, suggesting on Tuesday that he might “take a look” at the billionaire entrepreneur’s citizenship status, sparking widespread concern and speculation.
When asked during a press briefing at the White House whether he intended to deport Musk who is originally from South Africa and is now a naturalized American citizen Trump responded, “I don’t know. We’ll have to take a look,” as reported by Bloomberg.
The remark follows mounting tension between the former allies, with Musk recently becoming a vocal critic of the Republican-led tax and spending bill advancing through Congress.
The legislation proposes cutting consumer tax credits for electric vehicle (EV) purchases a move that could significantly harm Tesla’s market position.
Tesla shares dipped over 4% in premarket trading following Trump’s comments.
Trump dismissed Musk’s criticism as being driven by personal gain, accusing the billionaire of lashing out to protect subsidies linked to his companies. Earlier that day, Trump also posted on social media threatening to pull federal support from Musk’s ventures.
“He’s losing his EV mandate,” Trump said. “Elon could lose a lot more than that.”
The so-called “EV mandate” refers to federal policies encouraging electric vehicle production and adoption. While the proposed legislation doesn’t directly touch emissions standards, it does aim to end the EV tax credit that helped fuel consumer interest.
Musk, who once briefly served in Trump’s now-defunct “Department of Government Efficiency” (nicknamed “DOGE”), has publicly denounced the bill, calling it an “insane spending spree” and hinting at backing a third political party.
Trump, seemingly mocking Musk’s past involvement, joked, “We might have to put DOGE on Elon… DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon. Wouldn’t that be terrible?”
While there are no legal grounds for deporting a naturalized citizen like Musk, Trump’s remarks highlight the increasingly personal nature of the rift between the two figures, with potential implications for politics, the electric vehicle industry, and the 2026 elections.
