Billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday denounced President Donald Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and accusing lawmakers of irresponsibly adding to the federal deficit.
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk wrote on his social media platform X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.”
He added, “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
Musk’s criticism sparked immediate reactions from Senate Republicans, some of whom have already expressed concerns about the bill’s projected $3.8 trillion addition to the federal government’s $36.2 trillion debt. The bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed the House of Representatives by a single vote last month and is now headed to the Senate, which is also under Republican control.
Senate Republicans remain divided over the legislation. Deficit hawks are pushing for deeper cuts than the $1.6 trillion over 10 years included in the House version, while rural-state Republicans are working to protect Medicaid and related hospital reimbursements.
Senator Mike Lee reposted Musk’s message and echoed the call for fiscal restraint.
“We must commit now to doing so, as this is what voters justifiably expect – and indeed deserve – from the GOP Congress,” the Utah Republican wrote on X.
Senator Ron Johnson, another fiscal hardliner, predicted the Senate would miss the July 4 deadline for passage, citing the lack of sufficient spending reductions. At least four Senate Republicans are demanding changes to the bill to curtail deficit growth.
A separate group of GOP lawmakers is focused on preserving business investments in green energy and support for Medicaid beneficiaries.
“I certainly have an interest in making sure people with disabilities are not harmed. But also, there’s the broad issue of how does it affect hospital reimbursements,” said Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas. “There’s a set of my colleagues who are pushing to do more. And so it turns on how do you get the votes to pass a bill.”
Some Republicans, like Senator Thom Tillis, suggested deferring parts of the tax plan, including Trump’s proposals for tax breaks on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits, to a future bipartisan bill. “Those are all Democrat priorities. I’m not sure why we shouldn’t be doing that in a potential bipartisan bill to create headspace for this bill,” Tillis said.
Despite the criticism, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune stood by the bill.
“We have a job to do – the American people elected us to do. We have an agenda that everybody campaigned on, most notably the president of the United States, and we’re going to deliver on that agenda,” the South Dakota senator told reporters.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also brushed off Musk’s remarks.
“My friend Elon is terribly wrong,” he told reporters.
The Senate Finance Committee, which handles tax policy, is scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House on Wednesday to discuss making the bill’s business tax breaks permanent, according to Senator Steve Daines.
The White House responded to Musk’s attack, saying the president remains committed to the bill.
“Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”
Musk’s vocal opposition presents a test of his political influence just a week after his departure from the Department of Government Efficiency, where he had served as a special government employee. During his tenure, he disrupted multiple agencies but failed to deliver the significant cost savings he had promised.
Musk has invested nearly $300 million in Trump’s presidential campaign and GOP candidates but has said he will reduce his political spending while focusing on his role as CEO of Tesla.
