Elon Musk has never been one to mince words, but his latest outburst about President Donald Trump’s much-debated agenda bill has sent shockwaves through Washington—and left White House officials scrambling.
On Tuesday, the tech billionaire took to X (formerly Twitter) to deliver a scathing critique of the massive Congressional spending bill that President Trump is urging GOP senators to support. ‘I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.
This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,’ Musk declared.
He didn’t stop there, adding, ‘Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.’
In a follow-up post, Musk warned, ‘Congress is making America bankrupt,’ and called for voters to ‘fire all politicians who betrayed the American people’ in the next election.
The reaction inside the White House? Utter surprise. While senior staffers were aware that Musk wasn’t a fan of the bill, they hadn’t anticipated such a public—and pointed—rebuke, especially given Musk’s recent conversations with both White House staff and GOP lawmakers.
According to insiders, the timing and tone of Musk’s comments caught them completely off guard.
This isn’t Musk’s first rodeo when it comes to criticising the bill. After the House passed the package, Musk voiced his disappointment in an interview, arguing that the bill would balloon the budget deficit and undermine efforts to streamline government spending.
He even referenced the ‘work that the DOGE team is doing’—a nod to his ongoing interest in efficiency and, perhaps, a sly wink to his crypto followers.
When pressed about Musk’s latest tirade during a press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to downplay the drama.
‘The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,’ she said, adding, ‘It doesn’t change the president’s opinion—this is one big, beautiful bill and he is sticking to it.’
In other words: thanks for your input, Elon, but we’re not budging.
House Speaker Mike Johnson also weighed in, pushing back against Musk’s criticism. ‘Elon is missing it, OK? And it’s not personal. I know that the [electric vehicle] mandate’s very important to him,’ Johnson told reporters, referencing the bill’s impact on EV incentives—a key issue for Musk’s company, Tesla.
Johnson revealed that he and Musk had a ‘very friendly conversation’ just the day before, making Musk’s public condemnation all the more surprising.
‘For him to come out and pan the whole bill is, to me, just very disappointing, very surprising in light of the conversation I had with him yesterday,’ Johnson said.
It’s worth noting that Tesla has reaped the benefits of federal tax credits, with consumers able to claim up to $7,500 off certain US-made electric vehicles.
If the GOP bill passes, those incentives could disappear—a potential blow to Tesla’s bottom line and a likely factor in Musk’s vocal opposition.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, meanwhile, brushed off Musk’s comments as a ‘difference of opinion’ and signalled that he intends to push the bill through the Senate before the July 4 deadline. ‘We plan to proceed at full speed,’ Thune said, undeterred by the billionaire’s objections.
Adding another twist to the saga, Musk recently stepped down from his special government role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, officially leaving the administration last Friday. But if anyone thought that would quiet him, they were sorely mistaken.
Musk’s remarks quickly found an ally in Republican Senator Rand Paul, who echoed the billionaire’s concerns. ‘We can and must do better,’ Paul posted, reiterating his opposition to the bill’s impact on the national debt.
Paul has been vocal about his refusal to support the legislation as long as it includes a debt ceiling increase—a sticking point that has become a major flashpoint in negotiations.
President Trump, for his part, has been working the phones, speaking with several GOP senators (including Paul) in an effort to shore up support.
The Senate is now considering tweaks to the bill, with congressional leaders racing to get the package to Trump’s desk by July 4—a tight and ambitious timeline.
Paul told CNN that he had a ‘lengthy discussion’ with Trump, making it clear that he can’t back the bill if the debt ceiling hike remains. ‘It’s just not a conservative thing to do, and I’ve told him I can’t support the bill if they are together.’
‘If they were to separate out and take the debt ceiling off that, I very much could consider the rest of the bill,’ Paul explained, noting that Trump ‘did most of the talking’ during their call.
So, what does all this mean for everyday Australians watching from afar? While the ins and outs of US politics might seem a world away, the ripple effects of American fiscal policy can reach our shores—impacting global markets, trade, and even the price of the next Tesla you see on the road.
But perhaps the bigger takeaway is the power of public figures to shape the debate. Musk’s willingness to speak out—regardless of political alliances or business interests—reminds us that democracy thrives on robust discussion, even (or especially) when it gets a little messy.
What do you think? Is Musk right to call out the bill, or is he just protecting his own interests? Should politicians listen more to business leaders, or keep them at arm’s length? We’d love to hear your thoughts—join the conversation in the comments below!
It is of great concern that Trump rewards the rich without consideration of the nation’s debt.
It is just so corrupt and hypocritical.
Thank goodness the senile Biden is not in, although they all pretended he wasn’t senile and good for anotherterm, as the debt would be higher.