Elon Musk launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation Tuesday, describing it as a “disgusting abomination” just days after departing his government cost-cutting role at the White House.
The tech billionaire posted on X that the massive Republican bill would drive the United States further into debt and undermine the work of his Department of Government Efficiency team. Musk indicated he could no longer remain silent about legislation he characterized as outrageous and filled with wasteful spending projects.
Musk warned that the bill would massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt. He expressed shame toward politicians who voted for the measure, suggesting they knew they had acted wrongly.
The South African-born entrepreneur left the Trump administration on May 31 after serving 130 days leading the government efficiency initiative known as DOGE. His departure came as a “special government employee” status legally limited his service to that timeframe. Musk had previously donated more than $250 million to support Trump’s 2024 election campaign.
Trump’s legislation, which he refers to as the “big, beautiful bill,” passed the House of Representatives in late May largely along party lines. The measure extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts and includes $46.5 billion for border wall construction, increased defense spending, and funding for mass deportation efforts.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Musk’s criticism during a Tuesday briefing, stating that Trump “already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.” She emphasized that the president’s opinion remained unchanged and he was sticking with the legislation.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would increase the federal deficit by approximately $2.3 trillion over the next decade. To offset tax cuts and new spending, Republicans included provisions cutting $698 billion from Medicaid subsidies and $267 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as food stamps.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed disappointment with Musk’s stance, telling reporters his friend was “terribly wrong” about the legislation. Johnson revealed he had spoken with Musk by telephone for more than 20 minutes on Monday, attempting to explain the bill’s benefits. The Speaker suggested Musk’s criticism might stem from provisions eliminating electric vehicle tax credits that could affect Tesla customers.
Several Republican lawmakers found themselves divided over Musk’s intervention. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged a difference of opinion but indicated the party would proceed with the legislation. Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, one of only two Republicans who voted against the House version, supported Musk’s assessment.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has threatened to block the bill over debt ceiling increases, agreed with Musk’s concerns about massive government waste. Paul indicated both he and Musk had witnessed extensive wasteful spending and believed adding another $5 trillion in debt would be a significant mistake.
The legislation includes provisions to raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, bringing total federal borrowing capacity to approximately $40 trillion. Current federal debt stands at $36.2 trillion, slightly exceeding the existing $36.1 trillion limit set in January 2025.
Democratic leaders welcomed Musk’s criticism despite their previous opposition to his government efficiency efforts. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed agreement with Musk’s assessment, calling the development unimaginable. Senator Bernie Sanders characterized the bill as a disgusting abomination that would provide $664 billion in tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans while cutting healthcare and nutrition programs.
Musk’s time leading DOGE proved controversial, with significant reductions to federal workforce and cuts to foreign aid programs through agencies like the United States Agency for International Development. His initial goal of cutting $2 trillion in government spending was reduced to $1 trillion and eventually to $150 billion.
The Senate is now considering the legislation with a target passage date of July 4. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, making defections potentially problematic for the bill’s prospects. Any Senate changes would require the measure to return to the House for additional votes before reaching Trump’s desk.
Musk indicated he might actively oppose politicians who supported the legislation, suggesting voters should remove those who betrayed American interests in next year’s midterm elections. This marked his first major public disagreement with Trump since leaving the administration.