The conflict has escalated once again! By a single vote margin, Elon Musk may face deportation.

The U.S. political arena is abuzz again, with the protagonists being Elon Musk, the boss of Tesla and SpaceX, and former President Barack Obama. The cause of the incident is something called the "Big and Beautiful" Act, which passed in the U.S. Congress by a single vote, causing a huge uproar in society. Musk, who publicly opposed the bill, has been rumored to be at risk of deportation, while the 63-year-old Obama also spoke out, sharply criticizing the bill as doing little good for America's future.

First, let's talk about the "Big and Beautiful" Act. The name sounds impressive, but the content is actually not that beautiful. In early May 2025, the U.S. government introduced this bill, mainly to address the fiscal deficit. How to solve it? Simply and crudely - raise the debt ceiling, then cut the budgets in areas such as healthcare, education, new energy, and environmental protection, and redirect the funds to national defense. To put it bluntly, it's a "robbing the poor to enrich the rich" approach. As soon as the bill came out, society was in an uproar. Some criticized it as pushing the poor to the brink, while others thought national defense was more important. Anyway, the arguments were fierce.
On May 22, the bill was voted on in the House of Representatives, 218 votes to 217 votes. By this single vote, it was barely passed. The result was so exciting, just like a TV drama. As soon as the news came out, there were protesters outside Congress, holding signs shouting "Return our medical insurance" and "Education is the future". The incident also made international news, with many countries watching, saying that U.S. fiscal policy is so short-sighted.
Musk has really stepped into a minefield this time. He originally had a good relationship with Trump and spent a lot of money to help Trump canvass votes in the 2024 election. After Trump won, he even gave him a position in the "Department of Government Efficiency" to manage government spending. Musk worked hard and saved $160 billion in three months, which is really efficient. Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long, and he soon fell out with Trump.
The reason for the falling out is directly related to the "Big and Beautiful" Act. The bill cut subsidies for new energy, and Tesla was directly impacted. Production costs soared, with each car costing $10,000 more. Musk was not happy. He publicly criticized the Trump administration on X, saying that this tariff policy is destroying the competitiveness of the new energy industry. He also severely criticized the Republican Party, calling them "empty-headed losers". This really stirred up a hornet's nest. Trump directly said that if Musk continues to make trouble, he may have to get out of the U.S.
Why mention deportation? Although Musk has thrived in the U.S., he was actually born in South Africa and only immigrated to the U.S. in the 1990s. Although he has long held U.S. citizenship, at such a sensitive time, identity issues are easily brought up. Some speculate that this is Trump putting pressure on him. After all, Musk's companies have too much influence in the U.S., and the loss would be huge if he really leaves.
Then there's Obama. The 63-year-old former president is also not sitting idle. He was interviewed at his home in Chicago and directly criticized the "Big and Beautiful" Act, saying it is not good for America's future.
Why did Obama speak out? On the one hand, he has always been concerned about social justice, which is consistent with his policy philosophy during his presidency. On the other hand, although he is no longer president, he still has influence. Through foundations and other means, he is still promoting issues such as voting rights and climate change. This statement is also to encourage the public, and by the way, to accumulate some popularity for the Democratic Party.
To understand how this conflict escalated, we have to start from the beginning. In the 2024 U.S. election, Trump made a comeback, and Musk was one of his biggest financial backers. Musk not only spent money but also held activities such as "More Votes" and "Voting Lottery" in swing states to attract many voters. After Trump won, the two were once as close as buddies, and Musk was even given important responsibilities.
But in 2025, the wind changed. In early April, Trump introduced a "reciprocal tariff" policy, which caused Tesla's costs to soar, and Musk was a bit unhappy. In addition, Tesla's performance was not good at that time, with net profit dropping 71% in the first quarter, and SpaceX's Starship project was burning a lot of money. Musk was under great pressure. He was never one to swallow his anger, so it's not surprising that he confronted Trump at this time.
The "Big and Beautiful" Act became the trigger. Musk believed that this bill not only harmed his company but also violated his philosophy of promoting technological innovation and sustainable development. The more he ranted on X, the stronger the rebound from Trump's side, and finally, it came to the point of deportation, which completely broke their faces.
After the bill was passed, American society was really in chaos. Protests broke out across the country. People were angry, feeling that basic protections such as medical care and education had been undermined. Many of the protesters were ordinary people, and it was no joke.
Musk is not to be outdone. In June 2025, he directly announced the establishment of the "America Party", wanting to compete with the two parties based on the concepts of technological innovation and sustainable development. He said he wanted to change the rules from the root.
This escalation of contradictions really says a lot. The transformation of Musk and Trump from allies to foes is behind the collision of interests and ideas. Musk wants to engage in innovation, while Trump wants to maintain his old ways, and as a result, neither has compromised. The "Big and Beautiful" Act may seem like a short-term victory, but it has many hidden dangers, and American society has paid a heavy price for it. Obama's speaking out is also a reminder that policies should not only look at the present but also think about the long term.
To put it bluntly, this is a game of power and interests, and ordinary people caught in the middle suffer the most. It's still unclear whether Musk can be deported, but this conflict is probably not going to subside for a while. As outsiders watching the excitement, we have to think, how long can the U.S.