Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences'
Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences'
The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk imploded in spectacular fashion this week. File photo: AFP
US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened his former advisor Elon Musk with "serious consequences" if the tech billionaire seeks to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill.
The comments by Trump to NBC News come after the relationship between the world's most powerful person and the world's richest imploded in bitter and spectacular fashion this week.
The blistering break-up – largely carried out on social media before a riveted public on Thursday – was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress.
Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk – one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election – to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation.
"He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also branded Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be.
He also said he had "no" desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has "no intention of speaking to him."
Just last week, Trump gave Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
But their relationship cracked within days as Musk described as an "abomination" the spending bill that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump's second term in office.
Trump hit back in an Oval Office diatribe and from there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned.
With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both had appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters, "I just wish him well," and Musk responding on X: "Likewise." (AFP)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
an hour ago
- RTHK
Thailand 'deeply saddened' by death of Gaza hostage
Thailand 'deeply saddened' by death of Gaza hostage An Israeli military statement, which gave his name as Natthapong Pinta said its forces had retrieved his body from the Rafah. File photo: AFP Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday it was "deeply saddened" by the death of a Thai hostage in Gaza whose body was retrieved by Israeli forces. Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said in a video statement the ministry "is deeply saddened to announce that today, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv was informed by a representative of the Israeli government that Mr Nattapong Pinta, the last Thai hostage, has been confirmed dead." An Israeli military statement, which gave his name as Natthapong Pinta, said on Saturday its forces had retrieved his body from the Rafah area of southern Gaza. It said he was taken alive as a hostage during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and "was murdered while in captivity". The Israeli military statement blamed the Mujahideen Brigades, an armed group close to Hamas ally Islamic Jihad. Nikorndej said Nattapong was one of three Thais held hostage in Gaza. The other two were confirmed dead in 2024 but Nikorndej said Israel has "not yet been able to retrieve their corpses". He said the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has contacted Nattapong's family to inform them and would work with the Israeli side to return his body to Thailand as soon as possible. (AFP)
RTHK
5 hours ago
- RTHK
Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences'
Trump threatens Musk with 'serious consequences' The relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk imploded in spectacular fashion this week. File photo: AFP US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened his former advisor Elon Musk with "serious consequences" if the tech billionaire seeks to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill. The comments by Trump to NBC News come after the relationship between the world's most powerful person and the world's richest imploded in bitter and spectacular fashion this week. The blistering break-up – largely carried out on social media before a riveted public on Thursday – was ignited by Musk's harsh criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress. Some lawmakers who were against the bill had called on Musk – one of the Republican Party's biggest financial backers in last year's presidential election – to fund primary challenges against Republicans who voted for the legislation. "He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also branded Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be. He also said he had "no" desire to repair his relationship with the South African-born Tesla and SpaceX chief, and that he has "no intention of speaking to him." Just last week, Trump gave Musk a glowing send-off as he left his cost-cutting role at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). But their relationship cracked within days as Musk described as an "abomination" the spending bill that, if passed by Congress, could define Trump's second term in office. Trump hit back in an Oval Office diatribe and from there the row detonated, leaving Washington stunned. With real political and economic risks to their falling out, both had appeared to inch back from the brink on Friday, with Trump telling reporters, "I just wish him well," and Musk responding on X: "Likewise." (AFP)
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump warns Musk against funding Democrats, says he thinks their relationship is over
US President Donald Trump, in an interview with NBC News on Saturday, said there would be 'serious consequences' if billionaire Elon Musk funds Democratic Party candidates to run against Republicans who vote for Trump's sweeping tax-cut bill. Trump declined to say what those consequences would be in the phone interview and went on to add that he had not had discussions about whether to investigate Musk. Asked if he thought his relationship with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was over, Trump said, 'I would assume so, yeah.' US Vice-President J.D. Vance had earlier said that Musk was making a 'huge mistake' going after Trump in a storm of bitter and inflammatory social media posts after a falling-out between the two men. But the vice-president, in an interview released on Friday after the very public blow-up between the world's richest man and arguably the world's most powerful, also tried to downplay Musk's blistering attacks as an 'emotional guy' who got frustrated. 'I hope that eventually Elon comes back into the fold. Maybe that's not possible now because he's gone so nuclear,' Vance said.
