New Delhi/IBNS: US President Donald Trump has threatened his former advisor and once 'great friend' Elon Musk with "serious consequences" if the tech billionaire seeks to punish Republicans who vote for a controversial spending bill by funding Democrats.

The comments by Trump to NBC News come after the relationship between them turned bitter, marked by public spats this week over Musk's criticism of Trump's so-called "big, beautiful" spending bill, which is currently before Congress.

"He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump, who also called Musk "disrespectful," told NBC News on Saturday, without specifying what those consequences would be.

Trump on Friday referred to Elon Musk as "the man who has lost his mind" while responding to a question regarding a possible telephonic talk with the tech billionaire.

"You mean the man who has lost his mind?" Trump had asked, adding that he was "not particularly" interested in talking to him.

He went on to claim that Elon Musk wanted to talk to him, but he is not ready to talk to Musk, indicating a snub to his former adviser and friend.

In the heat of the moment, however, when the two billionaires were exchanging blows on social media, Trump had threatened Elon Musk about scrapping his government contracts - which would directly impact SpaceX.

Despite sharing a strong bond, tech billionaire Elon Musk's friendship with Donald Trump has hit an all-time low, with the former slamming the US President repeatedly over the 'One Big Beautiful Bill'.

Trump, meanwhile, said he was very disappointed with Musk over his criticism of the bill.

After disagreeing with President Trump behind closed doors, Musk quit the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.