Taking a page out of Frankenstein, President Trump is warning he could turn the DOGE "monster" against its creator as Elon Musk returns to threatening Trump and his agenda.
Flexing his political muscle against the world's richest man, Trump said DOGE could save money for America by going after Musk's government contracts.
"DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon," Trump quipped to reporters Tuesday.
In a series of posts, Trump mocked Musk as essentially a welfare queen, warning the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX will go out of business without state backing.
It's a deeply ironic twist after Musk spent months targeting "waste, fraud, and abuse" across the federal government as the leader of DOGE. Now, Trump is suggesting that there could be savings in ending Musk's subsidies.
“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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE," Trump added.
Later, Trump expanded on his threats in free-wheeling comments at the White House, where he said he would look into deporting Musk back to his native South Africa.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to take a look," Trump said.
Trump evidently feels he needs to put Musk in his place as the world's richest man threatens to launch a third political party and primary Republicans who helps pass Trump's agenda.
The Trump-Musk alliance initially frayed in early June, when Musk had a dramatic public meltdown in which he attacked Trump's signature policy bill and smeared the president as an accomplice of Jeffrey Epstein. Musk apologized to Trump, who showed some interest in reconciling, only for Musk to shatter the truce by slamming the "Big, Beautiful Bill" again days before a pivotal vote. The legislation passed the Senate on Tuesday despite Musk's complaints, with three Republicans voting no and Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a tie.
While Musk has cited concerns about the federal deficit, Trump has dismissed Musk's criticism as self-interested, since the bill slashes electric car tax credits that Musk could benefit from.
Trump has also expressed frustration with Musk - who endorsed Trump in 2024 and was his biggest campaign benefactor - for waiting to complain.
"Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one," Trump wrote.
