Donald Trump recently suggested he might deport Elon Musk, sparking widespread speculation. But can the former president actually remove Musk from the U.S.? The two once appeared friendly, working on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but tensions have escalated.
On July 1, Trump told reporters he would “have to take a look” at deporting Musk, adding that Musk was upset about losing an electric vehicle mandate and could face bigger losses. Musk replied on social media, hinting at retaliation but holding back for now.
Elon Musk was born in South Africa and moved to the U.S. in the 1990s on a J-1 visa, later switching to an H-1B visa. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002 after meeting residency requirements.
Naturalized citizens generally cannot be deported unless they commit serious crimes like terrorism, fraud related to their citizenship, or treason. Experts say it’s extremely unlikely Musk would lose his citizenship or be deported.
Michael Kagan, a law professor, described Trump’s comments as political posturing rather than a realistic threat. Deporting a naturalized citizen requires strong legal grounds, which Musk does not appear to have. So, despite the headlines, Musk’s status in the U.S. remains secure.
