During a phone interview with NBC News on Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to entrepreneur Elon Musk, stating that the Tesla CEO would face “serious consequences” if he supports Democratic candidates opposing Republicans who advocate for the “big, beautiful bill.”
“If he does, he’ll have to pay the consequences for that,” Trump asserted to NBC’s Kristen Welker, adding, “He’ll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that,” although he refrained from detailing what those consequences might entail.
The president expressed his belief that his affiliation with Musk is effectively over following a public dispute that unfolded this week. “I gave him a lot of breaks, long before this happened, I gave him breaks in my first administration and saved his life in my first administration,” Trump remarked.
“I have no intention of speaking to him,” he added, and when questioned about the possibility of reconciliation, he responded, “I would assume so.”
Trump also accused Musk of showing “disrespect” toward the presidency. His comments represent some of the most comprehensive insights into their ongoing feud and clarify his intentions regarding any future collaboration with Musk.
Musk has been openly critical of the Trump-supported spending bill that recently passed through the House. Earlier this week, he described the bill as a “disgusting abomination” that could result in soaring federal budget deficits.
In a separate post on X, Musk stated, “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,” reflecting his discontent with the current political climate.
His opposition to the spending package, currently under consideration in the Senate, is seen as a catalyst for the tension between him and Trump.
Trump, however, remains optimistic about the bill’s future, asserting to NBC News that he is “very confident” it will pass by July 4, maintaining that he does not believe Musk has the power to derail its progress. “If you look at the Republicans, we’ve never been more unified,” Trump stated, reiterating his endorsement of the bill as “fantastic.”
— NBC News contributed reporting
