Trump Threatens to Use DOGE Against Musk Over Government Subsidies Amid Spending Bill Dispute

nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-threatens-re-examine-government-support-el...

Revised Article

President Trump escalated his conflict with Elon Musk by threatening to have the Department of Government Efficiency investigate government subsidies to Musk's companies. In a Truth Social post, Trump suggested that Musk receives more government subsidies than anyone in history and that without them, Musk would have to 'close up shop and head back home to South Africa.'

The conflict stems from Musk's vocal opposition to Trump's comprehensive spending bill, which Musk has called a 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill.' Musk has threatened to form a new political party if the legislation passes and has vowed to target lawmakers who support it in primary elections. This represents a dramatic reversal from their previously close relationship, during which Musk spent an estimated $250 million supporting Trump's election.

Musk left his position at DOGE in May 2025, making Trump's threat to use the organization against its former leader particularly notable. Tesla and SpaceX have received significant government support through contracts and subsidies, with reports indicating Musk's businesses have received at least $38 billion in various government benefits. The market reacted negatively to the feud, with Tesla shares dropping 6% in pre-market trading.

The dispute occurs as Republicans struggle to pass Trump's spending bill by their self-imposed July 4 deadline. The Congressional Budget Office projects the legislation would increase the national debt by approximately $2.8 trillion over ten years and result in nearly 12 million people losing health insurance due to Medicaid cuts. The bill faces opposition from fiscal conservatives within the Republican Party who are concerned about its deficit impact, highlighting broader tensions between Trump's legislative agenda and traditional conservative fiscal principles.

Missing Context & Misinformation 6

  • The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a temporary commission led by Elon Musk that was created to restructure federal government operations and reduce spending. Despite its name, DOGE is not an actual federal department but operates within the Executive Office of the President.
  • Musk left his special government employee position at DOGE in May 2025, but the commission continues to operate under Trump's directive until July 4, 2026. The irony of Trump threatening to use DOGE against Musk is that Musk created and initially led this very organization.
  • The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' being debated is Trump's comprehensive legislative package that combines border security, energy policy, and tax measures. The bill has faced opposition from fiscal conservatives within the Republican Party who are concerned about its deficit impact.
  • Tesla and SpaceX have historically received significant government support through various programs including electric vehicle tax credits, NASA contracts, and other federal incentives. This government support has been crucial to both companies' growth and success.
  • The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has faced repeated Republican criticism when its projections conflict with administration estimates. Republicans often dispute CBO methodology and favor White House economic models that assume higher growth rates.

Disinformation & Lies 2

  • The article states the CBO estimated the bill would increase national debt by $3.3 trillion, but according to previous reporting, the CBO projected $2.8 trillion in deficit increases, not $3.3 trillion.

Bias 3

The article contains some bias but it is largely fair and useful. The bias appears in framing this as a 'feud' and 'blow-up' which adds dramatic language, but this characterization is warranted given the public nature of the conflict and Trump's threatening language about using DOGE against Musk. The article appropriately highlights the irony of Trump threatening to use Musk's own creation (DOGE) against him. The bias serves readers by emphasizing the significance of this conflict between two powerful figures and the potential policy implications. The dramatic framing helps readers understand this isn't routine political disagreement but a serious rift with real consequences.