Elon Musk launched a scathing attack on President Trump’s massive budget bill Tuesday, calling the legislation—which Trump has touted as “big and beautiful”—an “outrageous,” “pork-filled,” “disgusting abomination.”
The world’s richest man didn’t hold back, directly shaming House members who voted for the bill: “You know you did wrong. You know it.”
The outburst was especially striking given Musk’s recent departure from his advisory role in the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a move marked by a cordial Oval Office appearance with Trump just days earlier.
Musk had already hinted at his disapproval during a “CBS Sunday Morning” interview, questioning whether a spending bill could truly be both “big” and “beautiful.”
GOP Leaders Blind-Sided by Musk’s Fury
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) thought he had eased Musk’s concerns after a 20-minute phone call Monday, where he “extolled all the virtues of the bill.” Johnson described the conversation as “very friendly.”
But Musk’s blistering public condemnation left GOP leaders reeling. Johnson called the remarks “very disappointing” and “terribly wrong.”
Will Musk’s Attack Sink the Bill?
Musk’s intervention raises two critical questions:
- Will his criticism sway Republican senators enough to derail the bill?
- Does this signal a broader break with Trump, the president Musk spent $250 million to elect?
The Trump-backed bill, which includes a $4 trillion debt ceiling increase, already faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Fiscal hawks like Rand Paul (Ky.), Ron Johnson (Wis.), and Mike Lee (Utah) oppose it over deficit concerns, while moderates like Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) worry about Medicaid cuts that could strip millions of Americans of health coverage.
Musk has aligned himself with the fiscal conservatives. After his initial blast, Rand Paul echoed his stance on social media, writing:
“I agree with Elon. We’ve both seen the massive waste in government spending, and another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake.”
Musk amplified Paul’s message to his 220 million X followers, along with critiques from Mike Lee and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of only two House Republicans to vote against the bill.
Trump Fires Back at Rand Paul—But Musk Doubles Down
The backlash came just hours after Trump lashed out at Rand Paul for opposing the bill, claiming the senator “never has any practical or constructive ideas” and is “crazy (losers!).”
The White House tried to downplay Musk’s criticism, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating:
“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’s sticking to it.”
But GOP senators aren’t shrugging it off. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) told Politico that Musk’s posts “got spread around pretty quickly” among Republicans.
A Warning Shot to Politicians?
Musk’s final post carried an implicit threat:
“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
The message suggests Musk could bankroll primary challenges—despite recently claiming he would scale back political spending.
For Trump, the bigger concern is whether Musk—armed with his massive X platform and influence over the online right—will become an increasingly vocal critic.
While their relationship hasn’t fully collapsed, Musk’s fiery rebuke has rattled both the White House and Capitol Hill Republicans. If his opposition grows louder, it could spell serious trouble for Trump’s agenda.