In a post on Truth Social, Trump took aim at Musk for the subsidies his companies have received, particularly for electric vehicles. Trump said without them, Musk would "probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa." Trump had also said "we'll have to look" when asked if he would consider deporting Musk.

As South Africa is buffeted by criticism from President Donald Trump and other American conservatives—some of it unfair and pushed by bad-faith actors—centrist business and political leaders dream of riding that storm to hasten reforms.

The feud between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk is still on the front-burner — with Trump saying he will “take a look” at whether the U.S. will deport the South African-born tech billionaire. Trump and Musk were one-time close political allies before they had a major rift over the Trump-backed congressional spending bill,