Topline
Elon Musk called for “a new bill that doesn’t grow the deficit” Wednesday, continuing his attacks on President Donald Trump’s signature policy bill for a second day, forcing congressional Republicans to publicly contest his criticism.
President Donald Trump holds a news conference with Elon Musk to mark the end of the Tesla CEO’s … More
Key Facts
Musk’s latest post, among more than a dozen between Tuesday and Wednesday attacking the bill, asks Americans to call their representatives in Congress and tell them to “KILL the BILL.”
He also said “we need a new bill that doesn’t grow the deficit,” in response to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., saying Wednesday that Musk didn’t answer his call Tuesday night.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote in his initial X post Tuesday blasting the legislation, calling it a “massive, outrageous, pork-filled . . . disgusting abomination” and adding “shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.”
Musk—the richest man in the world who used his wealth to help elect Trump last year by donating more than $250 million towards his campaign—also appeared to threaten Republicans who voted for the bill, warning that “in November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
The bill “will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt” he wrote in another tweet.
Musk—who left his White House role Friday after a whirlwind stint leading the Department of Government Efficiency—has previously expressed more tempered criticism of what’s formally known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, telling CBS in a recent interview he’s “disappointed” by the bill and that it “can be big or it can be beautiful.”
Chief Critic
Johnson, who shepherded the bill through the House at Trump’s behest, coaxing Republican holdouts, told CNN on Tuesday “it’s very disappointing” his “good friend” Musk disparaged the package. “With all do respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” he said. Johnson said he “extolled all the virtues of the bill” in a “long” and “very friendly conversation” with Musk Monday, which Musk “seemed to understand.” Johnson also appeared to suggest the bill’s rescission of electric vehicle mandates could be driving the Tesla CEO’s ire, but said he would “let others draw their own conclusions about that.” The legislation would remove by the end of 2026 Obama-era tax credits for some qualifying electric vehicle buyers.
Big Number
$3.8 trillion. That’s how much the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add to the deficit over the next decade. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates it would add $1.7 trillion when accounting for economic growth.
Crucial Quote
“The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday when asked by a reporter “how mad” Trump might be at Musk.
Key Background
Musk left the White House on Friday after spearheading a months-long effort to slash the size of the federal government. His “Department of Government Efficiency” laid off tens of thousands of workers, prompting multiple lawsuits against the firings and criticism from some Republicans who accused him of lacking compassion and precision in making the mass terminations. Musk and Trump insisted he’s leaving the White House on good terms and would continue to have a presence in the administration. Musk said he was leaving the White House because he’d already worked the 130 days he was allowed to work as a special government employee.
What To Watch For
Musk’s attack on the bill came as the president is pressuring Republican senators to approve the legislation by the July 4 deadline Senate leadership set to sign it into law. Trump pushed the bill in several Truth Social posts Monday and Tuesday, attacking Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for his opposition to the bill because it would add to the deficit. The bill—which sets the agenda to fulfill Trump’s key campaign promises including an extension of his 2017 tax cuts and more border security—passed the House 215-214 on May 22 with two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, voting against it, citing concerns it would add to the deficit.
Further Reading
Here’s Where Medicaid Cuts Stand In Trump’s Mega-Bill—Affecting More Than 7 Million Americans (Forbes)
Musk Cuts Off Reporter Asking About Drug Use Allegations—Including Ketamine, Ecstasy And Adderall (Forbes)
Musk Says He’ll Be Trump’s ‘Friend And Adviser’ After Leaving White House (Forbes)
