Stephen K. Bannon, a former White House chief strategist and influential figure in conservative circles, called for a series of investigations targeting billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, as tensions between Musk and President Donald Trump escalated sharply this week.
In a phone interview with The New York Times, Bannon urged the Trump administration to cancel Musk’s government contracts and scrutinise several aspects of his personal and professional life.
“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 said.
He also advocated for investigations into Musk’s alleged drug use, which has been reported by The New York Times, and his reported efforts to seek a classified Pentagon briefing on China. According to Bannon, Musk's security clearance should be suspended while such investigations are underway.
The remarks come as the once-cordial relationship between Musk and Trump has fractured in recent days, marked by increasingly hostile public exchanges.
Stevens: Bannon defines himself as a thug, and thugs do thuggish things. @elonmusk has no idea what he’s getting into. Reports suggest Musk may have lied during naturalization—grounds for deportation if true. I wouldn’t bet against Steve Bannon. pic.twitter.com/oDt2f1W6Hk
— Bannon’s WarRoom (@Bannons_WarRoom) December 31, 2024
Musk has also endorsed impeaching Trump, hours after the president threatened to cut off billions in federal subsidies and contracts awarded to Musk's companies.
Bannon, one of Trump’s earliest political advisors, has become one of Musk’s most outspoken critics in recent months, accusing him of wielding disproportionate influence in both politics and business.
His latest comments appear to signal a broader hardening of sentiment within some parts of Trump’s inner circle toward the tech mogul.
Previously, President Trump threatened on Thursday to cut off government contracts with billionaire Elon Musk's companies, while Musk suggested Trump should be impeached, turning their bromance into an all-out brawl on social media.
BANNON'S MESSAGE to ELON MUSK: If you want to stop the debt bomb, the wealthy cannot get an extension of the tax cut.
— Steve Bannon (@SteveBannonHQ) June 4, 2025
It must go to the middle class and the working class. pic.twitter.com/TBut6KBMTn
The hostilities began when Trump criticised Tesla CEO Musk in the Oval Office.
Within hours, the once-close relationship had disintegrated in full public view, as the world's most powerful man and its richest launched personal barbs at one another on Trump's Truth Social and Musk's X.
"The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts," Trump posted on Truth Social.
Wall Street traders dumped shares of Musk's electric vehicle maker and Tesla closed down 14.3%, losing about $150 billion in market value.
It was Tesla's largest single-day decline in value in its history.
Minutes after the closing bell, Musk replied, "Yes," to a post on X saying Trump should be impeached.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
Trump's Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of Congress and are highly unlikely to impeach him.
The trouble between the two started brewing days ago, when Musk denounced Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill.
False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it! https://t.co/V4ztekqd4g
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
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