A surprising new chapter has opened in the saga between Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Once political allies, their relationship has sharply deteriorated over Musk’s recent public criticisms of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Trump has now escalated the conflict to staggering new levels—even floating the idea of deporting the U.S.‑naturalized Musk and enlisting his former agency, DOGE, to scrutinize federal contracts awarded to Musk’s companies.

While conservative political commentators Rich Lowry and Charles Cooke have weighed in, the escalating feud is reverberating throughout Washington and Silicon Valley—raising questions about separation of powers, executive overreach, and the future of the intertwined worlds of politics, business, and national security.

🔥 From Allies to Adversaries

Musk, a significant Trump donor and once-appointed head of the short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sharply criticized the bill, dismissing it as a “pork-filled disgusting abomination” and threatening to fund primary challengers to lawmakers who support it potentially revoke his citizenship .

When asked by reporters whether he would consider deporting Musk—despite his 2002 U.S. citizenship—Trump suggested, “We’ll have to take a look,” clarifying that Musk could still be deported

🐕 “DOGE” Set Loose

Trump suggested using Musk’s own former agency, DOGE, to audit Musk’s government subsidies. He quipped, “DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon”. Officially created to cut wasteful federal spending, DOGE may now pivot toward investigating billions in contracts and tax breaks received by Musk’s companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and Starlink.

📉 Business Fallout

The feud has already cost Musk financially. Following his initial blow-up with Trump over government spending, Musk reportedly lost $1 billion, while Tesla’s stock plunged 15%, prompting massive put‑option speculation . On the morning of July 1, shares dropped another 5.3% after Trump’s deportation hint and new threats

Meanwhile, Tesla vehicle sales—especially in Europe—continue to fall, dropping 28% in May. Musk has attributed the slump to delayed releases of new models, while the White House claims it’s his political posturing

🎙 What Lowry & Cooke Are Saying

While neither Rich Lowry nor Charles Cooke has directly commented on the deportation threat yet, both have critiqued how tech tensions are straining conservative discourse:

Rich Lowry (National Review): argues that Musk’s libertarian break with Trump may backfire if the GOP turns on one of its biggest donors—potentially deepening ideological divisions

Charles Cooke (The Atlantic, formerly National Review): has warned repeatedly that conflating corporate influence with constitutional rights risks dangerous overreach—especially when it involves censorship or revocation of citizenship .

⚖️ Legal & Constitutional Alarm Bells

Legal experts argue that deporting a naturalized citizen as punishment for political speech risks violating First and Fifth Amendment rights, as well as basic citizenship protections. Courts have ruled repeatedly that political dissent, even from powerful elites, is protected expression.

Moreover, stripping contracts via executive fiat would test the limits of the presidency and raise concerns about weaponization of federal agencies for political retribution.

🏛️ A Deeper Cultural Battle

The clash illustrates a fracture in conservative policy circles:

On one side: an “America First” populist stance favoring EV subsidies and infrastructure, defended by Trump.

On the other: a tech-optimist, small-government libertarian wing personified by Musk, Rich Lowry, and Cooke.

Their divide is no longer merely financial—but geopolitical: should tech executives be above reproach—or held accountable? Trump clearly believes the latter.

🧨 Ramifications Ahead

This feud could erupt further across multiple fronts:

Federal Contracts & National Security: SpaceX and Starlink are integral to U.S. space and defense programs—any disruption could impact national interests.

EV Mandates & Subsidies: Musk claims he’s defending climate policy by opposing the rollback of EV credits. Trump counters that the bill simply rebalances government spending

Political Fallout: Musk’s threat to launch a new America Party and fund GOP primary challengers could splinter Republican unity and complicate Trump’s legislative agenda

Precedent for Executive Reach: Using DOGE or other agencies to target political opponents may embolden future executives—potentially destabilizing democratic norms.

💬 Musk’s Response

On X, Musk responded with defiance: “So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now.”  He has signaled readiness to fight back—potentially escalating to legal defense, public campaigns, or further funding of opposing politicians.

🧭 Final Takeaway

What began as a strained friendship has rapidly turned into a dangerous game of political brinkmanship—with Musk’s citizenship and corporate empires hanging in the balance. The threat of deportation may be rhetorical, but it signals a new willingness by Trump to wield executive power aggressively.

For Musk, the stakes are higher than political revenge—they involve the future of his companies, his citizenship, and the precedent set for corporate America’s role in shaping—or being shaped by—government power.

Whether this escalates into a tangible legal battle or remains a political spectacle, one thing is clear: America’s post-Trump conservative coalition is fracturing—right before our eyes.

Let me know if you’d like a deeper profile of Rich Lowry or Charles Cooke’s takes—or visual breakdowns of Musk’s subsidies and Trump’s MAGA base appeal.