Trump Threatens to Turn D.O.G.E into a Force Against Former Director Elon Musk

President Donald Trump publicly criticized Elon Musk, suggesting the DOGE agency carefully examine his companies. On Truth Social, Trump questioned Musk's leadership role and accused him of benefiting from the largest government subsidy in history, claiming that without the subsidy, Musk could have had to shut down the company and return to South Africa. Trump criticized Elon Musk for receiving the most government subsidies in history and argued that without the subsidies, Musk might have had to leave the U.S. There have been no official actions yet, and the White House along with Musk's representatives have not responded to the request for comment. Trump's post marks a major rift in the relationship with Elon Musk, who was once a partner in the DOGE initiative launched at the beginning of 2025 aimed at reforming the federal system. DOGE is a joint project between Trump and Musk, inspired by the name Dogecoin. In recent weeks, Elon Musk has increasingly distanced himself from the Trump administration, despite having publicly apologized. He criticized Trump's "great bill" — the plan for tax cuts, immigration reform, and cryptocurrency support — claiming it could add another $3.3 trillion to the national debt. Musk emphasized that the debt ceiling is the only tool that forces the government to control spending and curb waste.