The uneasy alliance between tech mogul Elon Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump just hit another boiling point. In a public outburst last week, Trump lashed out at Musk, declaring, “Maybe he should go back to South Africa,” while threatening to strip federal subsidies that benefit Musk’s companies. The comment—sharp, personal, and politically charged—sent shockwaves through both the tech and political communities.
The attack comes on the heels of a highly publicized May meeting in Saudi Arabia, where the two men appeared side by side at a royal palace, welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Riyadh gathering had all the optics of unity: handshakes, golden swords, and billion-dollar promises. Musk was there to pitch Tesla’s latest tech, including Optimus humanoid robots, and celebrate Starlink’s official approval in the Saudi market.
So how did things sour so quickly?
Trump’s South Africa remark isn’t just xenophobic dog-whistling—it’s a calculated move in a political chess game. As he amps up rhetoric ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections, Trump is trying to reclaim his “America First” image by targeting big tech, government subsidies, and globalists. Musk, despite being an ally on certain policy issues, has become a convenient foil.
“I gave him more subsidies than anyone,” Trump said during a recent rally. “And now he turns on me? Maybe he should go back to South Africa.”
Musk, born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1971, moved to the U.S. in the mid-1990s. Today, he’s an American citizen and CEO of multiple U.S.-based companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). The implication that he’s not “American enough” struck many as both politically desperate and personally offensive.
Unsurprisingly, Musk didn’t stay silent.
He responded on X, calling Trump’s $5 trillion spending spree “financial insanity” and warning that the U.S. economy is being hollowed out by waste and pork-barrel politics. Musk even hinted—again—at backing a third party or supporting independent candidates in 2024. The feud now appears deeply personal, with each man digging in publicly while continuing to benefit from their shared global exposure.
The contradiction is striking.
In Riyadh, Musk was treated like a visionary. He demonstrated Tesla’s next-gen AI, pitched Starlink’s ability to revolutionize Middle Eastern communications, and joined Trump in discussions with Saudi investors about futuristic infrastructure projects. Trump praised Musk at the time, calling him “a very smart guy doing big things for America.”
And yet, weeks later, that same “visionary” is being told to leave the country.
Analysts suggest this contradiction highlights how transactional Trump’s relationships can be. “It’s loyalty or nothing,” said one former GOP strategist. “When Elon pushes back—especially on spending and party loyalty—Trump doesn’t see nuance. He sees betrayal.”
Still, the global optics tell a more complex story. Both men benefit from their association on the world stage. Trump gets to showcase American innovation to global leaders. Musk gets high-level access to sovereign funds and deregulated environments where his ambitious tech projects can thrive.
For now, it seems the feud is confined mostly to U.S. headlines. In the background, deals continue to move forward in Saudi Arabia, Starlink’s expansion rolls on, and Tesla is in talks for further Middle Eastern investment.
Whether Trump’s “South Africa” remark is a one-off insult or a turning point in their alliance remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Musk and Trump are no longer just figures of American business and politics—they’re global actors playing a high-stakes, unpredictable game of power, perception, and profit.
