Elon Musk intensified his feud with President Donald Trump this week. ( Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Musk shot back in response to a video clip of Trump's remarks Tuesday morning that he would not continue escalating the feud "for now."
"So tempting to escalate this. So, so tempting. But I will refrain for now," Musk posted X.
Musk intensified his feud with former close ally Trump this week in a political warning to lawmakers that he will work to unseat them if they vote in support of Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill."
"Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING , but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year," Musk posted to X Monday evening.
The message was accompanied by an image of Pinocchio sitting on fire and the caption, "LIAR Voted to increase America's DEBT by 5,000,000,000.00"
Musk previously served as a special government employee with the Trump administration to help lead DOGE, frequently attended Cabinet meetings and joined Trump during public events. Musk's tenure with DOGE wrapped up at the end of May, as negotiations over the "One Big Beautiful Bill" intensified in Congress.
The budget reconciliation bill, if passed, will advance Trump's agenda on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt. The legislation is currently before the Senate.
Musk found himself aligned with a handful of Republican lawmakers, like Kentucky's Sen. Rand Paul, who have spoken out against the legislation, arguing it would increase the debt ceiling by $5 trillion.
Musk's post threatening to primary Republicans who vote in support of the legislation was followed by a late-night Truth Social message from Trump suggesting, "DOGE take a good, hard, look" at how government subsidies assist Musk-owned businesses such as Tesla and SpaceX.
"Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!" Trump posted after midnight Tuesday.
The post continued, "Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one."
'HE'S NOT A BIG FACTOR': TRUMP'S SENATE ALLIES DISMISS ELON MUSK'S CALLS TO 'KILL THE BILL'
President Donald Trump, left, and Elon Musk were previously closely aligned before Musk spoke out against the "One Big Beautiful Bill." (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)
Musk first remarked in May that he was "disappointed" Trump's "one big beautiful bill" passed the House, arguing it "undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing," before publicly working to rally Republican lawmakers to "kill the bill" in messages posted to X.
"Call your Senator, Call your Congressman," Musk said amid a flurry of similar posts June 4. "Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL."
ELON MUSK WARPATH AGAINST TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' RATTLES HOUSE GOP
Musk had kept his criticisms of the legislation quiet in recent days, including posting messages in support of the Trump administration as anti-ICE riots raged in Los Angeles in June. Musk reignited his criticisms of the bill Monday as the July 4 deadline to pass the "big beautiful bill" looms over Washington this week.
"It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people," Musk posted to X Monday afternoon.
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"What’s the point of a debt ceiling if we keep raising it?" Musk asked in another post early Tuesday morning. Adding in another: "All I’m asking is that we don’t bankrupt America."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-doge-monster-may-have-eat-elon-musk-vows-primary-ads-lawmakers-who-cross-him-bbb