Elon Musk publicly condemned President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill on Wednesday, urging Americans to pressure their representatives to “kill the bill.”
The legislation, which includes significant tax cuts and increased defense spending, was passed by the House last month and is now under consideration by the Senate.
Musk, via his platform X, argued that the bill would exacerbate the US budget deficit and burden citizens with unsustainable debt. He described it as a “disgusting abomination” and warned it would add approximately $600 billion to the deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. The tech billionaire’s comments mark a rare public disagreement with Trump, who remains a supporter of the bill.
The legislation, dubbed the “big beautiful bill” by Trump, aims to extend expiring tax cuts from 2017, boost defense funds, and fund immigration enforcement. Critics, including Musk, point out that it would lift the debt ceiling to $4 trillion, further increasing national debt. Musk has previously vowed to challenge Republican lawmakers who oppose Trump’s agenda and has threatened to back primary challenges against those who vote against it.
White House officials dismissed Musk’s criticisms, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling the bill “one, big, beautiful bill” and affirming that President Trump supports it. Meanwhile, Republican divisions are emerging; some senators like Rand Paul oppose the bill if it raises the debt ceiling, while others, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, support moving forward despite disagreements.
Musk’s opposition to the bill also touches on concerns over its impact on electric vehicle tax credits, which could affect Tesla. Despite their recent discussions, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Musk’s critique, emphasizing the bill’s importance and expressing regret that Musk has criticized it. The legislation faces a deadline of July 4 for passage into law.
