Trump Warns Musk Against Supporting Democrats: 'Serious Consequences If He Does That'

The fallout from Donald Trump's acrimonious split with Elon Musk took a fresh turn on Saturday, as the US president issued a stark warning to the South African-born billionaire not to back Democratic candidates standing against Republicans who had supported Trump's flagship tax bill.

Trump declared that he had "no intention" of speaking to Musk, who until recently served as a special advisor at the White House.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

The Tesla and SpaceX boss had publicly lambasted the tax legislation, branding it "an abomination", and hinting he may financially support Democratic opponents of those Republicans who had voted in favour of it.

Speaking to US broadcaster NBC News, Trump said Musk would "have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," though he did not elaborate on what those consequences might entail.

The president further criticised Musk as "disrespectful", adding that he had "no" desire to mend fences.

Once close allies, Trump and Musk's relationship soured dramatically after Musk resigned from his post at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on 30 May. Musk had been a prominent donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, contributing more than $250 million.

The feud swiftly became public, with both parties trading blows on social media. In a particularly explosive claim, Musk alleged - in now-deleted posts on his platform X - that Trump was named in unreleased government files connected to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

"Time to drop the really big bomb: (Trump) is in the Epstein files," Musk posted, offering no evidence. "That is the real reason they have not been made public."

Responding to the deleted claims in his NBC interview, Trump dismissed them as "old news", stating: "Even Epstein's lawyer said I had nothing to do with" the late financier's alleged crimes.

The public row between former allies Donald Trump and Elon Musk deepened on Saturday, as the US president reiterated he has no plans to speak with the billionaire entrepreneur.

Musk this week publicly attacked Trump's signature policy - the so-called "big, beautiful" tax bill - and suggested he might support Democratic challengers to Republicans who had backed the legislation.

Trump has now warned Musk he could face "serious consequences" should he follow through.

Meanwhile, in other developments, China has confirmed that its vice premier will meet a US delegation in the United Kingdom next week for talks on trade.