Elon Musk Denounces Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' Amid Rising GOP Discord

Elon Musk has publicly condemned President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill," labeling it a "disgusting abomination" and expressing his inability to support the legislation. The bill, which includes multi-trillion dollar tax breaks, increased defense spending, and provisions to raise the U.S. debt ceiling, passed the House of Representatives in May 2025. Musk's criticism marks a significant departure from his previous support of Trump and reflects growing tensions within the Republican Party over the bill's fiscal implications.

Musk, who previously led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), resigned from his position on May 31, 2025, after 129 days of service. His departure came amid concerns over the bill's potential to increase the national deficit by approximately $600 billion in the next fiscal year. In a series of posts on X, Musk warned that the "outrageous, pork-filled" spending bill would "massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion" and burden American citizens with unsustainable debt.

The White House responded to Musk's comments by reaffirming the president's support for the bill. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that "the President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill" and emphasized that "this is one, big, beautiful bill." Despite Musk's departure, Trump expressed appreciation for his contributions, stating that "he will, always, be with us, helping all the way."

The legislation also proposes extending tax cuts from Trump's first administration in 2017, increasing funds for defense spending, and raising the debt ceiling to $4 trillion. These provisions have sparked debate among Republicans, with some lawmakers expressing concern over the bill's impact on the national debt. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, for instance, has stated he will not support the bill if it includes the provision to raise the debt ceiling, arguing that "the GOP will own the debt once they vote for this."

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican who played a key role in advancing the legislation, defended the bill and criticized Musk's stance. Johnson revealed that he had a 20-minute phone call with Musk regarding the bill and expressed surprise at Musk's public criticism, stating, "I just deeply regret he's made this mistake." Johnson also noted that the phasing out of tax credits in the bill could affect Tesla, Musk's electric vehicle company.

Some Democrats have welcomed Musk's comments, viewing them as validation of their opposition to the bill. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked, "Even Elon Musk, who's been part of the whole process, and is one of Trump's buddies, said the bill is bad. We can imagine how bad this bill is." As the Senate prepares to vote on the legislation, divisions within the Republican Party and criticism from influential figures like Musk highlight the contentious nature of the bill and its potential impact on the U.S. economy.