Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, urged President Donald Trump Thursday, June 5, to investigate and deport tech billionaire Elon Musk, escalating a dramatic public feud between the world’s richest man and the commander-in-chief.
The former Trump adviser told The New York Times that he believes immigration authorities should examine Musk’s legal status. “They should initiate a formal investigation of his immigration status because I am of the strong belief that he is an illegal alien, and he should be deported from the country immediately,” Bannon stated.
Musk, born in South Africa, obtained American citizenship in 2002 after immigrating through Canada and attending the University of Pennsylvania. However, a 2024 Washington Post investigation alleged that he worked illegally in 1995 while on a student visa, a claim Musk disputed.
The deportation demand emerged amid an unprecedented clash between Trump and Musk over the president’s massive spending legislation. Musk repeatedly attacked what Trump calls his “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” describing the measure as fiscally irresponsible.
Earlier this week, Musk expressed his opposition in stark terms on his social media platform X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” he wrote, adding shame on lawmakers who supported it.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the legislation would increase federal deficits by $2.4 trillion over ten years, a projection that fueled Musk’s criticism, despite the White House’s claims that the analysis is biased.
Trump responded Thursday by threatening to cancel Musk’s lucrative government contracts. The president wrote on Truth Social that terminating Musk’s subsidies and agreements would save billions in budget dollars.
Musk immediately escalated the confrontation, announcing that SpaceX would begin dismantling its Dragon spacecraft program, which serves NASA’s International Space Station missions. Hours later, however, he backed down from that threat after a social media user urged him to reconsider. The billionaire then made explosive allegations without providing evidence.
“Time to drop the massive bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files,” Musk posted, claiming this explained why certain documents remain unreleased.
Bannon, who has criticized Musk for months, amplified his attacks on his War Room podcast. He accused the Tesla chief executive of failing to deliver promised government efficiency reforms while leading the Department of Government Efficiency until last week.
The former Breitbart chairman argued Musk overpromised on identifying federal waste. He claimed the billionaire pledged to find $1 trillion in fraudulent spending but produced only modest rescission proposals totaling $9.4 billion.
During his podcast appearance, Bannon also suggested investigating allegations about Musk’s drug use and claims he sought classified China briefings from the Defense Department. Trump previously confirmed blocking such intelligence access.
The ideological rift reflects broader tensions within Trump’s political coalition. Conservative journalist Jonah Goldberg noted that Bannon represents populist nationalism, favoring immigration restrictions, while Musk advocates for expanded skilled worker visa programs.
Financial markets reacted negatively to the public dispute. Tesla shares plummeted 17 percent Thursday, erasing billions in market value as investors worried about potential government retaliation against Musk’s business empire.
When questioned about Musk’s criticism, Trump suggested personal motivations drove the billionaire’s opposition. The president indicated Musk was upset about removing electric vehicle mandates that benefited Tesla and his inability to influence NASA leadership selections.
Some Republican lawmakers sided with Musk’s fiscal concerns. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who opposed the House spending bill, supported Musk’s assessment. Senator Mike Lee of Utah echoed warnings about the impact of deficit spending on middle-class Americans.
The breakdown represents a stunning reversal from their close 2024 campaign collaboration. Musk contributed over $250 million supporting Trump’s presidential bid and maintained regular White House access until departing his official role.
Musk even appeared to endorse Trump’s impeachment on Thursday, supporting social media posts calling for the president’s removal and replacement with Vice President J.D. Vance. He emphasized his long-term political influence, noting Trump’s remaining 3.5-year term versus his expected decades of continued involvement.
The dispute also attracted attention from Trump critics. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told reporters the conflict was predictable, arguing two feuding individuals with massive egos shouldn’t influence the country.
Bannon has consistently opposed Musk’s influence within Trump’s inner circle, previously labeling him a “parasitic illegal immigrant” during earlier disagreements over immigration policy and government spending priorities.
The former campaign strategist’s deportation call represents his most direct challenge to Musk’s position, potentially forcing Trump to choose between competing advisers as the spending legislation advances through the Senate.
