Trump takes aim at Musk over EV subsidies, suggests Tesla would collapse without govt support
Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on Tesla CEO Elon Musk, alleging that Musk’s businesses would not survive without federal subsidies. Trump suggested that Musk would "probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa" if government support was withdrawn.
Sharing a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump reiterated his opposition to the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, calling it “ridiculous.” He said that while electric cars are acceptable, Americans should not be forced to buy them. He also called on the Department of Government Efficiency to scrutinise subsidies granted to Musk.
"Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate… Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one," Trump wrote.
He further alleged that Musk may have received “more subsidies than any human being in history” and that removing such support could result in the end of Tesla’s operations, SpaceX launches, and satellite projects.
The remarks come in response to Musk’s recent criticism of Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which he said worsens the national debt. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk labelled the bill as evidence of a “one-party country” and called for the formation of a new political party. Referring to the debt ceiling hike, he called the Republican Party the “Porky Pig Party” and said the legislation was “political suicide” for the GOP.
Musk and Trump have had a tense relationship in recent years. Musk previously left the Trump administration and later called for Trump’s impeachment, citing alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein’s case files.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
