President Donald Trump said Tuesday he might consider deporting Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, during a brief exchange with reporters at the White House. The comment follows Musk’s outspoken criticism of the administration’s new tax and spending legislation.
“I don’t know,” Trump said when asked directly if he would deport Musk. “We’ll have to take a look,” he added. Musk, born in South Africa, is a naturalized U.S. citizen.
The dispute marks a surprising turn in the relationship between the two figures, who previously aligned on issues of innovation and economic growth. Musk has recently criticized provisions in Trump’s tax reform that target electric vehicle subsidies, warning of job losses and slower EV adoption.
Following Trump’s remarks, Tesla shares fell more than 4% in pre-market trading, as the feud between the two high-profile figures sent ripples through financial and political circles.
