Things appear to be getting worse.
In a sharp political showdown, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk fired back at former Trump advisor Steve Bannon, after Bannon publicly urged President Trump to seize Musk’s SpaceX under the Defense Production Act and deport the billionaire to South Africa.
Bannon made the comments on his War Room podcast, suggesting that SpaceX—a private company that has become a crucial partner in NASA missions—should be taken over by the federal government due to national security concerns. The call came amid growing tensions between pro-America populists and tech industry elites.
Musk responded directly on X, formerly Twitter, writing:
“Bannon advocates crime, because he is a criminal.”
Musk, a Naturalized Citizen, Defends His American Ties
Born in South Africa, Musk became a U.S. citizen in 2002 and has since led major American technology ventures including Tesla and SpaceX. Both companies have played key roles in restoring American industrial leadership, particularly in space exploration and clean energy manufacturing.
Musk’s reply came after a post resurfaced Bannon’s demand that President Trump invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) to take over SpaceX. The DPA is a powerful federal tool that allows the government to take control of private-sector assets deemed vital to national defense.
Bannon’s Legal History and Trump’s Pardon
Bannon, 71, is no stranger to controversy. In 2022, he was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House January 6 Committee and spent four months in federal prison. He was released in October 2024.
Earlier, in the final days of President Trump’s first term, Bannon was pardoned in connection with federal fraud charges tied to a border wall fundraising campaign. Prosecutors alleged that donor funds were misused, though Bannon denied any wrongdoing.
Musk vs. Trump: A Growing Rift?
The Musk-Bannon clash comes on the heels of broader tensions between Musk and President Trump over the proposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Last week, Musk controversially threatened to halt the use of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, which services NASA missions to the International Space Station, before later backing off.
The Dragon capsule recently returned two American astronauts—Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore—who had spent nearly nine months stranded in space.
Is a SpaceX Seizure Realistic?
While Bannon’s call to seize SpaceX may appeal to nationalist sentiments, it faces significant legal and political hurdles. The Defense Production Act has historically been used sparingly, most recently by President Trump to boost critical mineral production and secure the U.S. supply chain from Chinese dependence. It was also used during the pandemic by both Trump and President Biden to speed up medical supply and vaccine production.
Final Thoughts
As political divides widen in America, even allies of President Trump are finding themselves in public disputes. Musk’s role in national defense, space innovation, and free enterprise has made him both a hero and a target. Whether this feud escalates—or is smoothed over—remains to be seen.