U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked fresh controversy after suggesting he might “TAKE A LOOK” at the possibility of deporting billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk, following Musk’s sharp criticism of a major Trump-backed economic bill.
The remark came during a televised interview on Tuesday, where President Trump was asked about Musk’s continued opposition to the “America First Prosperity Act,” a sweeping economic measure recently passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Musk has been a vocal critic of the bill, describing it as “fiscally disastrous” and warning of long-term economic fallout.
“Elon’s done some great things, but he’s gotten very mouthy lately,” Trump said. “Maybe we take a look at that. Who knows? He wasn’t born here. We’ll look into it.”
The president’s comments quickly drew backlash from legal experts, politicians, and civil liberties groups, who argued that deportation of a naturalized U.S. citizen for expressing political opinions would be unconstitutional.
Musk Responds : Musk, who was born in South Africa and became a U.S. citizen in 2002, responded via his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Fascinating how fast the tide turns. Free speech is only free until it threatens the power structure.”
In a follow-up post, he added: “I love America. I’m not going anywhere.”
Musk has recently intensified his criticism of both major political parties and has floated the idea of supporting a third-party political movement. He has accused both the Trump administration and congressional Democrats of “mismanaging the country’s future.”
Legal scholars were quick to refute the possibility of deporting Musk, who holds American, Canadian, and South African citizenships. Under U.S. law, a naturalized citizen cannot be deported unless there is evidence of fraud in the naturalization process or the commission of certain serious crimes.
“There is absolutely no legal justification for revoking Elon Musk’s citizenship or deporting him,” said Professor Janet Keller, a constitutional law expert at Harvard University. “This appears to be political retaliation, not policy.”
Political Fallout: President Trump’s comments have ignited debate within political circles, with some Republicans distancing themselves from the statement. Meanwhile, Democrats strongly condemned the president’s remarks, calling them a direct threat to free speech and the rule of law.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Threatening to deport a U.S. citizen for disagreeing with the president’s policies is authoritarian, plain and simple.”
The clash underscores a growing divide between Trump’s administration and influential figures in the tech industry, many of whom have taken increasingly public stances on political and economic issues.
President Trump’s comments have added new fuel to the political discourse as tensions rise ahead of the 2024 election. While legal experts say Musk’s citizenship is not in jeopardy, the episode reflects the increasingly personal and polarized nature of American politics.