Elon Musk has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” in a fiery social media post. Musk, who had been appointed by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, voiced his outrage at the bill, condemning it for contributing to the country’s ballooning budget deficit, which he claims could reach $2.5 trillion.
He also slammed the bill for potentially burdening Americans with “crushingly unsustainable debt.”
Musk’s comments come as the bill, which narrowly passed in the House last month, faces scrutiny in the Senate. The Tesla CEO’s public attack on Trump’s flagship legislation marks a significant break from his previous role as an advisor, especially after he stepped down from his position at the Department of Government Efficiency last week.
While Musk had previously critiqued some of Trump’s policies, this is the harshest public rebuke yet, highlighting a growing rift between the two. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed Musk’s remarks, stating that they wouldn’t change the president’s stance on the bill.
However, Musk’s post resonated with some Republican critics of the bill. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of the few Republicans to vote against the bill, echoed Musk’s criticism, agreeing with his assessment. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), also critical of the legislation, showed his support for Musk’s stance, calling the proposed spending a mistake and urging for fiscal responsibility.
The timing of Musk’s criticism also added tension to the GOP’s position, particularly for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who played a key role in pushing the bill through the House. Johnson expressed disappointment over Musk’s comments, which he found surprising given their previous discussions.
Musk’s disapproval of the bill isn’t a one-off. He had already voiced concerns last week, calling the bill a setback for efforts to reduce government spending and undermining the work of his Department of Government Efficiency. Musk also escalated his criticism on social media, questioning why Republicans are funding projects like luxury hotels in Ukraine, while ignoring domestic issues like cuts to government spending. In a final blow, Musk suggested that politicians who “betrayed the American people” should be fired in the next election, signaling a potential shift in political support and strategy within the GOP.
Musk’s comments add pressure to the GOP, especially after his America PAC invested heavily in Trump’s reelection bid and down-ballot races, making his disapproval potentially costly for the party.
