Claim by Donald Trump (Truth Social)
On June 5, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social:
“The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
Explanation
This claim is true in terms of authorship—Trump did make this post. The message quickly went viral on platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky, with commentators like Ron Filipkowski amplifying it.
However, while Trump’s post is authentic, the financial assertion within it is uncertain. According to Snopes, it’s unclear whether terminating Elon Musk’s contracts and subsidies would save “billions and billions.” Though The New York Times reported in 2024 that Tesla and SpaceX received at least $15.4 billion in federal contracts since 2014, those funds are tied to ongoing services, including NASA missions.
For instance, NASA relies on Musk’s SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to transport astronauts and cargo to and from the International Space Station. Musk responded sarcastically on X, saying:
“In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.”
The total value and impact of ending these contracts remain speculative and context-dependent.
Conclusion
Fact or Fiction? Fact (the quote is real), but the budgetary claim lacks confirmation. Trump did post the message, but whether canceling Musk’s contracts would save “billions and billions” is unproven.
Read More
Snopes: Did Trump Say U.S. Could Save Money by Ending Elon Musk’s Government Contracts?
Do you appreciate our work? Please consider one of the following ways to sustain us.
or
Last Updated on June 22, 2025 by Media Bias Fact Check