Elon Musk Slams Trump’s Spending Bill, Sparking GOP Tensions
Billionaire Elon Musk entered the political spotlight Tuesday, slamming President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending package as a “disgusting abomination” that could swell the national deficit. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his platform, X, to criticize the bill’s size and pork-barrel content, saying, “Shame on those who voted for it.”
Musk’s criticism echoed concerns among fiscally conservative Senate Republicans, potentially complicating the bill’s passage. The legislation, passed narrowly by the House last month, would extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and ramp up military and border spending. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the plan would add $3.8 trillion to the federal debt.
The Senate, also Republican-controlled, is aiming to pass the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” by July 4, though revisions are expected. Senate Finance Committee Republicans are scheduled to meet with Trump to discuss making the bill’s business tax cuts permanent — a move analysts warn would significantly raise costs.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune defended the bill, rejecting Musk’s critique and emphasizing the GOP’s duty to fulfill campaign promises. House Speaker Mike Johnson also brushed off Musk’s remarks, calling him “terribly wrong.”
Musk’s attack comes just a week after stepping down from his official advisory role in the Trump administration. While he spent nearly $300 million supporting Trump-aligned campaigns, Musk has said he plans to scale back his political involvement and focus on Tesla.
Despite the White House dismissing Musk’s remarks, his criticism intensified intra-party disagreements. Fiscal hawks like Senators Mike Lee and Ron Johnson are pushing for deeper spending cuts, while others want to shield Medicaid and green energy provisions.
With Republicans holding a slim 53-47 Senate majority, they can only afford three defections unless Vice President JD Vance casts a tie-breaking vote. As the July 4 deadline looms, some GOP lawmakers suggest pushing certain tax proposals to future legislation to gain support and reduce fiscal pressure.
