Fact-Check Summary
Donald Trump’s July 24, 2025 TruthSocial post denied plans to destroy Elon Musk’s companies (Tesla and SpaceX) by removing U.S. government subsidies, stating he wants them to thrive. However, historical evidence and recent reporting indicate that, as recently as June and July 2025, Trump openly threatened to revoke or cut large-scale subsidies and government contracts to Musk’s companies—threats that coincided with sharp market declines for Tesla. The record shows that Musk’s enterprises have collectively received at least $38 billion in U.S. government support over 20 years. The major “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation—signed in early July—confirms the termination of electric vehicle (EV) tax credits and other clean energy subsidies, beginning September 30, 2025. Therefore, while Trump’s most recent statement is conciliatory, his prior actions and the legislative record support fears that critical subsidies for Musk-linked companies are, in fact, being withdrawn.
Belief Alignment Analysis
The content in Trump’s post presents an outward expression of support for American businesses and a “thriving” U.S. economy. This aligns superficially with democratic values of inclusion and opportunity. However, the recent record—marked by threats targeting specific companies and individuals for perceived political grievances—raises concerns about undermining a fair, stable, and rules-based economic system. Democratic principles require government leaders to apply policies consistently and transparently, not in reaction to personal disputes or as leverage in feuds. The abrupt pivot from threatening subsidy withdrawal to offering encouragement appears more driven by political calculation than by principle, undermining public trust and potentially fostering division rather than unity.
Opinion
Trump’s latest statement attempts to reassure the public and business community, but it glosses over a volatile period where his administration’s credible threats influenced both markets and policy. The evidence suggests such interventions were not motivated by a principled application of law, but by personal and political dynamics. This behavior is at odds with the democratic imperative to separate personal animus from matters of public economic policy. While all Americans have a stake in successful national industries, government should not wield its power to reward or punish specific entities based on political loyalty. True support for “all businesses” means creating transparent, predictable rules that serve the common good—not reacting to the political winds or personal feuds of those in power.
TLDR
Trump’s post claims he wants Musk’s companies to thrive and denies plans to cut their government support, yet this contradicts weeks of public threats and actual legislative changes eliminating key subsidies. This pattern exposes concerns about the politicization of economic policy and the need for leaders to abide by fair, transparent standards that lift all people—not just a favored few.
Claim: Trump stated on July 24, 2025, that he does not intend to destroy Elon Musk’s companies by removing government subsidies and wants all U.S. businesses to “thrive.”
Fact: Despite this conciliatory statement, Trump previously issued clear public threats to revoke large-scale government support for Musk’s companies. The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” actively supported by his administration, eliminates major subsidies for Tesla and other clean energy companies starting September 2025. Musk’s businesses have relied on at least $38 billion in government support, a significant portion of which is now legislated to end.
Opinion: Leadership that vacillates between retribution and reassurance is destabilizing and contrary to democratic ideals. The prosperity of American businesses—and indeed the health of democracy—depends on rules-based governance, not shifting personal allegiances or tactics. True patriotism today means holding power accountable and demanding standards that protect everyone’s fair shot, not just the most politically convenient.