Billionaire Elon Musk sharply rebuked President Donald Trump‘s “big, beautiful bill” this week, sparking both praise and backlash. An analyst told Newsweek that a slice of Trump’s coalition is now getting “disillusioned” by him, and Musk is the most recent example.
Why It Matters
Musk was chosen by Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) during the president’s first few months of his second term in office. Since his January inauguration, Trump has enacted sweeping cuts across the federal bureaucracy, mainly through executive orders and the creation of DOGE.
The SpaceX CEO pushed for DOGE to gain access to the most sensitive and confidential information about American taxpayers, leading to a slew of lawsuits.
Musk has also faced fierce backlash amid his drastic cuts to the budget, including thousands of federal jobs, and the dismantling of entire agencies.
Amid the uproar, Tesla cars and property have been targeted and torched across the United States as protesters demonstrated against Musk’s appointment as an unelected official.
What To Know
The reconciliation bill, or the “big, beautiful bill” as Trump calls it, is a key avenue for Republicans to push forward the White House agenda following widespread GOP election victories in November.
Key GOP holdouts in the House and Senate have voiced opposition to the bill over fears of raising the national debt, among other concerns.
In a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday, Musk ripped the piece of legislation, saying, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
The White House reacted to Musk’s condemnation on Tuesday, as press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in part, “Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion.”
In a new post to X on Wednesday, Musk doubled down: “A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn’t massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS.”
The Republican infighting is a distinct turn from Musk’s MAGA loyalty and near constant presence alongside the president during his second term.
“Musk’s attacking Trump’s bill that the House passed highlights the conflict among Republicans, especially now in the Senate, over passage of this reconciliation bill purposefully designed to avoid needing 60 votes and a Democratic filibuster. If it does not pass the Senate or otherwise not make it to Trump’s desk by the summer, it will at minimum greatly embarrass the Trump administration,” Columbia political science professor Robert Y. Shapiro told Newsweek via email Tuesday.
“This embarrassment also puts Republicans in the Senate and the House in a tough spot, since this could affect Republican control of the House and also even put control of the Senate in jeopardy. This is all currently the Senate responsibility. And Trump needs this control of Congress to pass legislation and to prevent a Democratic controlled House especially from starting investigations of his unconstitutional acts as president and also blatant corruption in using the presidency to enhance his family’s and his wealth,” Shapiro added.
He also said that Musk’s jab at the bill “may make this only marginally more difficult” for Trump, while noting that he still has his MAGA base backing him.
On the other hand, D. Stephen Voss, political science professor at the University of Kentucky, told Newsweek via email, in part, on Wednesday: “Parts of the Trump coalition are becoming disillusioned with the way he’s governing. Elon Musk’s defection from the White House is just one high-profile example of the disillusionment with Trump being seen among right-leaning libertarian types, who are bothered by Trump’s willingness to grow government and increase executive power.”
“But that’s not the only slippage,” Voss added. “Consider, for example, disillusionment with Trump being expressed by the Hispanic voters who put him over the top in 2024. As Trump’s public support slips, that’s going to turn into less Republican party unity in D.C. The increasingly noisy opposition to Trump might not stop him from getting some version of his omnibus budget bill, but either way, it will make it harder for him to govern in the months ahead.”
What People Are Saying
Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia posted to X on Tuesday: “Do I like the price tag of the One Big Beautiful Bill? No. But we’re still stuck with Biden’s CR that funds tons of foreign aid and woke garbage at home and abroad. Passing the OBBB is a critical step toward delivering the America First MAGA mandate voters gave us in November.”
Greene added, “I’m focused on passing the @DOGE cuts that Elon and his team helped craft and I’m grateful he launched this effort.”
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah, responding to Musk on X Tuesday: “Federal spending has become excessive The resulting inflation harms Americans And weaponizes government The Senate can make this bill better It must now do so”
Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, also on X Tuesday in response to Musk: “I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better.”
Trump, on Truth Social Tuesday: “Rand Paul has very little understanding of the BBB, especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming. He loves voting “NO” on everything, he thinks it’s good politics, but it’s not. The BBB is a big WINNER!!!”
What Happens Next
Trump has handed down a deadline for Senate Republicans to get the bill passed and on his desk before July 4th. It is unclear if Republican senators will garner enough votes to get it done in roughly one month.