The truce between Donald Trump and Elon Musk lasted only a few weeks.
After the public fight and the attempt at reconciliation in May, the president and his former first buddy returned to a fierce clash on their respective social networks, exchanging attacks and threats, with the tycoon going so far as to hypothesize a possible expulsion of the Tesla owner from the United States.
"Without the subsidies" for electric cars, "Elon should probably close up shop and go home to South Africa," Trump thundered, causing the company's shares to sink by 7%. When asked if he wanted and could deport the billionaire, the president responded dryly: "I'll take a look." In a fit of rage, the tycoon also threatened to unleash the Department for Government Efficiency, the Doge that the magnate led to lead the administration's battle against fraud and waste in public spending, against Musk. "The Doge should perhaps look carefully" at Musk's empire, beneficiary of important public contracts: "there is certainly a lot of money to save".
The fuse that triggered Trump's furious reaction was once again the 'big beautiful bill', over which relations with Musk originally deteriorated. The measure strongly supported by the president, because it contained all his electoral promises, is branded as "irresponsible" by Musk. The measure, the billionaire explained, will cause an increase in public spending and debt capable of ruining the United States. "We live in a country with a single party, the pig party", he said bluntly, returning to the possibility of founding a "new political party that really cares about people".
Musk then went on to threaten all the members of Congress who supported the measure: "They should be ashamed. And they will lose the primaries in the next few years, even if it's the last thing I do on this Earth," he assured.
Statements that the president did not digest and that triggered his violent reaction, at a crucial moment for the 'big beautiful bill' in Congress. The measure was approved by the Senate thanks to the decisive vote of Vice President JD Vance after three Republicans joined the 47 Democrats and rejected it. Rand Paul, Thom Hillis and Susan Collins opposed it because of the cuts to the Medicaid health care program, with which 12 million Americans will lose coverage.
The measure now goes to the House, where it faces an obstacle course. The text is in fact profoundly different from the one previously approved by the deputies and will therefore require more time to be examined.
Not to mention the skepticism of moderate Republicans about the cuts to Medicaid, with which their seat risks faltering in the midterm elections next year, also due to Musk's commitment to make them pay a high price. Unlike senators who have a six-year term, deputies only have a two-year term and are therefore the ones most exposed to the judgment of the voters. For Republican hawks, however, the text approved by the Senate does not include sufficient cuts and should be tweaked.
Speaker Mike Johnson is called upon to summarize the different positions. "We will act quickly," he assured, personally committing to hitting the July 4 goal set by Trump for signing the law. Celebrating his victory in the Senate, the president said he was optimistic about the House's ability to act quickly and deliver a major victory before the summer recess and in view of the upcoming fiery days that await him. Between the meeting at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the ceasefire in Gaza that he wants to reach by next week, and the July 9 deadline for tariffs.