Trump says Musk got ‘more subsidy than any human ever’, suggests shutting down SpaceX and Tesla aid

(FILES) US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk (R) speak in the Oval Office before departing the White House in Washington, DC, on the way to Trump's residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida on March 14, 2025.

US President Donald Trump has lashed out at his former aide Elon Musk, questioning the billionaire's reliance on federal subsidies and denouncing the electric vehicle (EV) mandate as "ridiculous."

“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate,” Trump wrote, doubling down on his long-held opposition to government-backed electric vehicle requirements. “Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,” he added.

Taking a direct shot at Musk’s companies, Trump claimed the Tesla and SpaceX CEO may have received more subsidies “than any human being in history.” He warned that without government support, Musk “would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.”

He also floated the idea of reevaluating government spending on Musk’s ventures, saying, “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”

Trump's remarks came after Musk -- who had an acrimonious public falling out with the president this month over the bill -- reprised his sharp criticisms and renewed his calls for the formation of a new political party as voting got underway.

Trump is hoping to seal his legacy with the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which would extend his expiring first-term tax cuts at a cost of $4.5 trillion and beef up border security.

But Republicans eyeing 2026 midterm congressional elections are divided over the package, which would strip health care from millions of the poorest Americans and add more than $3 trillion to the country's debt.

As lawmakers began voting on the bill on Monday, Musk -- the world's richest person -- accused Republicans of supporting "debt slavery".

"All I'm asking is that we don't bankrupt America," he said on social media Tuesday. "What's the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?"

Musk has vowed to launch a new political party to challenge lawmakers who campaigned on reduced federal spending only to vote for the bill.

"VOX POPULI VOX DEI 80% voted for a new party," he said.