US ex-advisor, Tesla CEO exchange insults in escalating feud

Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has called for an investigation into Elon Musk’s immigration status, claiming the tech billionaire is in the United States illegally. 

Speaking on his War Room podcast on June 5, Bannon urged President Donald Trump to take immediate action, including invoking emergency powers to seize control of SpaceX, Caliber.Az reports.

“President Trump, tonight, should sign an executive order calling for the Defense Production Act,” Bannon said, referring to a Cold War-era law that grants the president broad authority over domestic industries in times of crisis. “Seize SpaceX tonight, before midnight,” he added.

Bannon escalated his criticism by claiming Musk’s US residency was illegitimate.

“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,” he said in comments. 

Musk fired back on social media with a dismissive slur. In a late-night post on X, the platform he owns, Musk called Bannon a “communist r*****.”

The clash comes amid heightened political tensions surrounding what Trump has described as his "big, beautiful bill," a Republican-led initiative that recently passed in the House and aims to reshape federal oversight of the tech and defense industries.

By Sabina Mammadli