No, it’s not a theory taken from Reddit or an unpublished episode of Black Mirror. Donald Trump, in his usual style of saying a lot without saying anything, hinted that he could deport Elon Musk. All of this amidst political tensions, former allies becoming distant, and a growing list of ideas that seem more like they are from a dystopian comic than a government plan.
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But, could he really do it?
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The origin of the tangle: criticisms, DOGE, and a possible “punishment”
It all started with a half-joking (or not so much) exchange with a journalist: “Are you going to deport Elon Musk?” “I don’t know, we’ll have to look into it,” Trump replied, before joking that he would have DOGE “eat” Musk.
And no, I was not talking about the famous cryptocurrency, but about the DOGE committee (Department of Government Waste Elimination) that, ironically, Musk helped promote.
For a while now, the CEO of Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) has criticized Trump’s economic policies, whom he previously supported with millions and visibility on social media. The friction is not just economic; it adds to a narrative that has gained strength in the former president’s administration, focusing on naturalized immigrants.
Can he be deported? Legally, yes... but not without a fight.
Elon Musk has been a naturalized US citizen since 2002, in addition to holding South African and Canadian citizenship. Technically, he could lose his citizenship if it is proven that he lied or committed fraud in his immigration process, something that Musk has denied.
Still, cases like this have already happened. A recent example: Elliot Duke, a British immigrant and former US military member, lost his citizenship after being convicted of a serious crime.
The Department of Justice has made it clear that denaturalization is on the table for those who have committed certain offenses.
Who is at risk?
The focus is on naturalized citizens, not on those born in the U.S., although Trump has also suggested that he would like to change that. Currently, revoking the citizenship of someone born in the country is nearly impossible, except in extreme cases of proven fraud.
And although many experts see it as unlikely that a case like Musk’s will succeed, the mere possibility is already generating debate and fear among millions of legal immigrants, especially those most critical of Trump.
Elon deported? More likely he’ll launch a rocket to the sun
In summary: Can Trump deport Musk? In a very specific and legally tangled scenario, maybe. Is it likely? Not at all. But as we already know, in Trump’s politics, the unlikely is never completely out of the conversation.