Musk proposes a new political party, Trump suggests DOGE 'might have to
go back and eat Elon'
[July 02, 2025]
By MEG KINNARD
Elon Musk's feud with President Donald Trump — and seemingly any
congressional Republicans who support the president's massive tax cuts
and spending package — has reignited, with the tech billionaire
threatening to launch a new political party, and Trump suggesting Musk
could be punished for his opposition.
The dispute has laid bare not only the differences between the
Republican president and one of his most vociferous one-time advocates,
but also has reignited the possibility that the world's richest man will
— along with his billions — reenter the political spending arena.
Here's a look at the latest in the Musk-Trump dispute:
Musk reenters the political fray
Musk — who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024
presidential campaign as the main contributor to America PAC — said in
May that he would likely spend “a lot less” on politics in the future.
But his recent statements seem to indicate Musk might be rethinking that
stance.
On Monday, the tech billionaire and former Department Of Government
Efficiency chief lashed out multiple times at Republicans for backing
Trump’s tax cuts bill, calling the GOP “the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” for
including a provision that would raise the nation’s debt limit by $5
trillion and calling the bill “political suicide” for Republicans.
After a post pledging to work toward supporting primary challengers for
members of Congress who backed the bill, Musk responded “I will” to a
post in which former Michigan Rep. Justin Amash asked for Musk’s support
of Rep. Thomas Massie. Trump and his aides are already targeting the
Kentucky Republican for voting against the measure, launching a new
super PAC devoted to defeating him.
Tuesday morning, Musk replied “You're awesome” to an X post from Massie
recirculating news coverage of Musk's support of him.
Musk's back and forth with Trump
Musk and Trump's potent political alliance seemed to meet a dramatic end
a month ago in an exchange of blistering epithets, with Trump
threatening to go after Musk’s business interests, and Musk calling for
Trump’s impeachment.
Much of it has boiled down to Musk's criticism of the tax cuts and
spending bill, which he has called a “disgusting abomination.” Both the
House and Senate versions propose a dramatic rollback of the Biden-era
green energy tax breaks for electric vehicles and related technologies.
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Musk is the chief executive of Tesla, the nation’s largest electric
vehicle manufacturer, and SpaceX, which has massive defense
contracts.
Overnight, Trump posted on social media that Musk has long known of
his opposition “against the EV Mandate,” which he called
“ridiculous.” Saying that, without subsidies, the Tesla CEO “would
probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa,”
Trump suggested that “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard,
look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
Trump went further at the White House on Tuesday, responding, “I
don’t know, I mean, we’ll have to take a look,” when asked by a
reporter if he would consider deporting Musk.
“We might have to put DOGE on Elon,” Trump said, of the
government-adjacent entity Musk once ran for him, slashing through
federal agencies in a broad-based, cost-cutting spree. “You know
what DOGE is. DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat
Elon.”
A new political party?
Several times, Musk has suggested that a new political party is
needed to encapsulate the viewpoints he argues aren't represented by
the GOP.
Overnight Monday, Musk reposted the results of an unscientific poll
conducted through his X feed early last month, asking if the U.S.
needs a political party “that actually represents the 80% in the
middle?”
Monday afternoon, Musk suggested that the “America Party” would be
formed if “this insane spending bill passes,” saying the U.S. “needs
an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the
people actually have a VOICE.”
Starting a new national party — which would be set head-to-head with
existing major parties — has been done before, but recent efforts in
that vein have struggled to catch on. Even without such an official
effort, Musk's financial backing could be a factor in upcoming
races, should he choose to contribute to candidates, either directly
or through his PAC.
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Darlene Superville contributed from Washington.
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