Elon Musk, who until last week had been Donald Trump's closest ally, has launched a blistering attack on Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and accusing Republican lawmakers of betraying the American people.
The sweeping bill, which proposes massive tax cuts, also plans to phase out electric vehicle credits, a move that could directly impact Musk’s Tesla.
In a series of scathing posts on X on Tuesday, Musk denounced the bill as “outrageous” and “pork-filled,” warning that it would push the US budget deficit to a staggering $2.5 trillion in the next fiscal year.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk wrote. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
Musk, who left his short-lived government role on May 31 after 129 days at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), had previously described the bill as “disappointing”. But Tuesday's comments marked his first public break with Trump since departing the administration.
“Congress is making America bankrupt,” Musk added, vowing political retaliation: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
The broadside stunned many in Washington, with White House officials reportedly caught off guard. Despite earlier private criticisms of the bill, Musk’s public condemnation came as a surprise to Republican leaders.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt responded curtly, saying: “The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change his opinion — this is one big, beautiful bill, and he is sticking to it.”
The proposed legislation has already exposed divisions within the Republican Party. Senator Rand Paul, a staunch fiscal conservative, echoed Musk’s concerns, saying the bill’s debt ceiling hike was unacceptable.
Trump fired back at Paul on social media, accusing him of having “very little understanding of the bill” and saying that “the people of Kentucky can’t stand him”.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also hit out at Musk’s comments, insisting the entrepreneur was “terribly wrong”. Johnson revealed he had spoken with Musk for 20 minutes on Monday to discuss the legislation. He expressed surprise that Musk would attack the bill despite their “friendly conversation”.
Johnson acknowledged that the bill’s removal of electric vehicle tax credits could affect Tesla, saying, “I lament that. I just deeply regret he’s made this mistake.”
According to reports from Axios, Musk had also been frustrated with the Federal Aviation Administration’s refusal to let his Starlink system manage air traffic control — a proposal rejected over technological and ethical concerns.
Musk’s break with Trump is significant given his previous support, including over $250 million in donations to Trump’s campaign. However, his remarks now reflect wider unrest among Republicans, particularly fiscal hawks, over the bill’s ballooning cost.
Democrats, meanwhile, seized on Musk’s comments. “Even Elon Musk, who’s been part of the whole process and is one of Trump’s buddies, said the bill is bad,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. “We can imagine how bad this bill is.”
As the battle over the bill moves to the Senate, Musk’s highly public rebuke adds further uncertainty to an already contentious piece of legislation — one that could shape the US fiscal landscape for years to come.
