On Tuesday, Elon Musk publicly unleashed a torrent of criticism at a new federal spending bill backed by former President Donald Trump. He called it “a disgusting abomination,” and warned it would drag the country deeper into financial chaos.
Posting on X, Musk said he simply couldn’t stay silent any longer. He called the legislation “massive, outrageous, pork-filled,” and declared that those who voted for it “know you did wrong. You know it.”
He didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, he stated bluntly, “Congress is making America bankrupt.” Then came a political rallying cry: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.” 
White House officials admit they were surprised by Musk’s unusually harsh tone
According to several White House insiders, staff members were caught off guard by the severity of Musk’s comments. His frustration with the bill was no secret. However, they didn’t expect him to go fully public, especially in such a blunt and uncompromising way.
What made the move even more surprising was Musk’s recent discussions with White House staff and Republican lawmakers. Those talks had been described as cordial. That’s why officials were shocked when he suddenly went scorched-earth online.
Musk had already voiced concerns about the bill increasing the deficit and undermining reforms
This isn’t the first time Musk has criticized the legislation. In an interview given shortly after the bill passed the House of Representatives, he said he was “disappointed.”
He warned the bill would make the budget deficit worse, not better. Musk also claimed it would “undermine the work that the DOGE team is doing,” referencing the Dogecoin community and its ongoing efforts.
White House press secretary says the president is fully aware of Musk’s views and remains committed to the bill
When asked during a press briefing about Musk’s latest outburst, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, offered a calm response. She noted that the president already knew where Musk stood.
“It doesn’t change the president’s opinion,” she said. “This is one big, beautiful bill, and he is sticking to it.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Musk is wrong and likely reacting emotionally to electric vehicle policy
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House, didn’t hold back either. He strongly defended the legislation and pushed back against Musk’s claims, saying the billionaire was “terribly wrong.”
Johnson told reporters he had a friendly phone conversation with Musk the day before the outburst. During that call, he laid out the bill’s many benefits. That’s why Johnson was both surprised and disappointed by Musk’s dramatic reversal.
He added that Musk might be upset about the bill’s potential impact on electric vehicle policy. “I know the EV mandate is very important to him,” Johnson said. “But for him to come out and pan the whole bill is just very disappointing.”
Tesla may lose key tax benefits under the GOP proposal, threatening sales and growth
One likely source of Musk’s frustration is the impact the bill could have on Tesla. The company has benefited greatly from federal tax credits that offer up to $7,500 to buyers of certain electric vehicles made in the U.S.
But those credits could vanish if the current GOP-backed proposal becomes law. That would pose a serious threat to Tesla’s U.S. market performance and future growth.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to advance the bill at full speed despite objections from Musk and allies
While Musk is raising the alarm, John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, isn’t slowing down. He brushed off the billionaire’s opposition, calling it a “difference of opinion.”
Thune made it clear he intends to move forward. His goal is to pass the bill through the Senate before July 4, sticking to an aggressive timeline.
Musk officially exits his government advisory role as tensions over the bill escalate
Amid the political chaos, Musk quietly stepped down from his role as a special government employee. He had been leading the Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary position granted to him earlier this year.
His resignation became official last Friday. The timing, coming just days before his fiery comments, seemed far from accidental.
Trump scrambles to unite GOP senators behind the bill as July 4 deadline approaches
President Trump spent Monday on the phone with key GOP senators, including Paul. His goal: to keep the bill alive and get it to his desk by Independence Day.
Paul later told CNN that he had a “lengthy discussion” with Trump. During the call, he explained that he could not support the legislation if it included a debt ceiling increase.
“It’s just not a conservative thing to do,” Paul said. “If they were to separate it out and remove the debt ceiling hike, I could consider supporting the rest of the bill.” Still, he noted that Trump “did most of the talking.”
