The White House defended President Donald Trump’s sweeping legislative package on Wednesday, pushing back against sharp criticism from tech billionaire Elon Musk and a dire deficit projection by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Trump’s proposed “one big, beautiful bill”, the cornerstone of his second-term domestic agenda, is projected by the non-partisan CBO to add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit by 2034. The plan includes extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and reducing funding for social welfare programs.
Despite the warning, administration officials dismissed the forecast. Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, called the CBO’s analysis “detached from reality,” asserting, “We are in a very good place with the bill.”
Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller echoed the administration’s familiar rhetoric, labeling the CBO “lefty” in a post on social media.
The bill, which passed the House of Representatives last week, now faces stiff resistance in the Senate. A group of senators visited the White House on Wednesday as negotiations intensify ahead of Trump’s target for a Senate vote by July 4.
Adding to the political drama, Musk, who resigned last week as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, reignited tensions by posting “KILL the BILL” on his X platform, accompanied by a meme from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. A day earlier, he called the proposal a “disgusting abomination.”
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune remained defiant. “Failure is not an option,” he said outside the West Wing. Asked about Musk’s deficit concerns, Thune replied, “We believe the opposite.”
The bill’s fate could have lasting implications for the 2026 midterm elections and the future of Trump’s legislative legacy.
Written By Rodney Mbua
