Donald Trump told Elon Musk to expect “very serious consequences” if he funds political candidates Trump opposes. This threat didn’t come through a leak or backchannel message—it came directly from the president during a phone interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker. That message followed a series of public jabs between the two men, revealing a larger question: What happens when the president of the United States threatens to retaliate against a private citizen for political donations?

Trump’s threat wasn’t vague. In a Thursday post, he suggested cutting off federal contracts and subsidies to Musk’s companies as a budget-saving measure. That post followed Musk’s public criticism of the GOP’s latest budget legislation and his call to vote out incumbents in 2026. The billionaire also floated the idea of launching a new political party “to represent the 80% in the middle.” Trump responded within days, warning that if Musk backs Democratic candidates in the midterms, he’ll suffer unspecified consequences. The president didn’t explain what those would be but insisted they’d be “very serious.”

What's really at stake for SpaceX and Trump

Elon and Trump Huge Fight breaks out #elonmusk #maga #trump

The Starship system is a fully reusable, two‑stage‑to‑orbit super heavy‑lift launch vehicle under development by SpaceX. The system is composed of a booster stage named Super Heavy and a second stage, also called "Starship"

Elon Musk instructed his 200 million X followers to “KILL the BILL” on Wednesday, intensifying his attacks on President Donald Trump’s signature spending legislation in a nonstop stream of posts. He called the bill a “disgusting abomination,” claimed it would bankrupt the country, and accused Congress of failing the American people. The comments marked a new peak in Musk’s opposition campaign, which has grown louder and more aggressive over the past 48 hours.

Musk, who had dialed back his political posting in recent months, returned in force this week with more than 25 posts and reposts hammering the legislation. He framed the bill as dangerous and fiscally irresponsible, writing, “Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America! ENOUGH.” In another post, he urged followers to pressure lawmakers directly, saying, “Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok!”

House Speaker Mike Johnson responded to Musk’s criticism on Wednesday morning, saying Musk was “flat wrong” about the bill’s effect on the deficit. Johnson told reporters that he tried to call Musk Tuesday night to discuss the issue, but Musk didn’t answer. In a video post featuring Johnson’s comments, Musk fired back: “We need a new bill that doesn’t grow the deficit.” Later, Musk posted another reply, saying, “No one who actually reads the bill should be able to stomach it.”

Elon Musk called President Trump’s signature domestic policy legislation a “disgusting abomination” and accused Congress of “making America bankrupt.” That attack came just days after a farewell ceremony in the Oval Office, where Musk and Trump praised each other and celebrated Musk’s exit from his advisory role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. Why would the billionaire who helped shape Trump’s cost-cutting agenda now turn so publicly and forcefully against it? The answer sits at the intersection of political fallout, budget math, and personal interest.

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