Elon Musk calls Trump agenda bill 'disgusting abomination'

Elon Musk on Tuesday issued a blistering criticism of the massive Republican bill for President Donald Trump’s agenda, posting on X that it represents a "disgusting abomination."

"I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore," Musk wrote. "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."

"It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt," added Musk, who left the White House last week.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said the package would increase the deficit by $2.3 trillion, with the tax cuts and spending hikes on immigration enforcement on the military outstripping the savings.

Musk, a top Republican donor during the 2024 elections, doubled down later in the day, posting on X: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”

The Tesla CEO previously signaled his disappointment in the legislation, telling CBS he believed it was a “massive spending bill” that “undermines” the work of his Department of Government Efficiency operation.

The remarks came as an unwelcome surprise to Republicans on Tuesday, as the Senate eye changes to the version passed by the House while seeking to placate competing factions internally, including those that want to reduce the red ink.

“We obviously respect everything that Elon did with DOGE. On this particular issue, we have a difference of opinion,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters. “He’s entitled to that opinion, but we’re going to proceed full speed ahead.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said it was “a dangerous thing” for Musk “meddling with” the economy, noting that a debt limit hike to avert a default was part of the bill.

"This is the key to the economic resurgence of America. It’s going to be jet fuel for the economy. And the sooner we do it, the better," Johnson said. "And by the way, the debt ceiling is also revved into this legislation. That is a dangerous thing for Elon or anyone who has who cares about the US economy to be meddling with. And I think the risk is very great.”

Musk's comments emboldened fiscal hawks like Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., two rare Republicans who have voted against the measure consistently throughout the process.

Some GOP senators who have supported the measure conceded that there was at least some validity to Musk's view.

“I think he has a point,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said, while adding that Musk wasn’t give enough credit to the “growth” that the tax cuts would bring. “I like Elon Musk, but he’s one man.”

“The Senate should make the bill substantially better, and I hope and believe we will do that,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told NBC News. “There’s no doubt we need to reduce spending more.”

Other Republicans dismissed Musk’s critique of the legislation.

“I ain’t got any thoughts on that. We got a lot of work to do,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. “He doesn’t get to vote.”

Musk's criticisms comes as the White House seeks to codify $9.4 billion in cuts proposed by the DOGE, the advisory entity Musk helmed in the initial months of Trump's second administration.

Asked Tuesday at a news briefing about Musk’s initial post, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: “Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”

The White House declined to offer additional comment.

Democrats, meanwhile, welcomed Musk’s critique.

“I agree with Elon Musk,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., calling his own words “something I didn’t think was imaginable” for him to say.

Still, some doubted his intentions.

“A broken clock is right twice a day,” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., joked, while doubting that Musk’s criticism was about sincere concern for deficits. “I don’t think there’s an ounce of sincerity in Elon Musk’s interest in trying to reduce red ink,” Murphy said. “I think DOGE was a very transparent play to increase his profile and to help his businesses.”

The bill as it stands would extend the president’s 2017 tax cuts, eliminate tax on tips and overtime work, and boost funding for immigration enforcement and the military. It will also make cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion.

The House narrowly passed the broader package last month, but it still has several steps to clear before reaching Trump’s desk. Any changes the Senate makes to the bill would have to go back through the House, where Republicans hold a small majority, before it can be signed into law.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a close Trump ally who voted in favor of the measure, expressed regret on X Tuesday over a provision she said she didn’t know was included.

“Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years,” she said, referring to the legislation dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” “I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there … This needs to be stripped out in the Senate.”

Musk's comments come just days after the president gave him an official send-off from the Oval Office. The tech titan's stint in Washington has been the subject of withering criticism, with many pointing out that Musk, the wealthiest person in the world, was only able to achieve a fraction of the $2 trillion in cuts he had set out to make.

They also hint at lingering tensions with the Trump administration — some of which made their way to the public through news reports about tense meetings and shouting matches. Musk previously took some of his grievances public, including criticism of Trump’s tariffs.

Meanwhile, Musk’s public profile has suffered — as did the perception of his most consumer-centric business, Tesla. Tesla shares are down about 13% so far this year as sales have flagged.