In a post on Truth Social, Trump took aim at Musk for the subsidies his companies have received, particularly for electric vehicles. Trump said without them, Musk would "probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa." Trump had also said "we'll have to look" when asked if he would consider deporting Musk.

US President Donald Trump threatened to look into deporting Elon Musk and cut off the billions of dollars in subsidies that Musk's companies receive from the federal government while talking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday.