The Billionaire’s Break: Musk’s Public Rejection of Trump’s Tax Plan
Elon Musk, fresh off his abrupt exit from the Trump administration, took to X (formerly Twitter) and let loose: “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.”
I’ll admit, I had to read that twice. Musk, who just months ago was Trump’s cost-cutting czar, is now the loudest voice against the president’s signature legislative push—a bill Trump himself has called “big and beautiful” with the kind of bravado only he can muster.
I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025
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.
What’s Actually in the Bill?
Let’s break it down. The legislation, which squeaked through the House in May, is a sprawling package of multi-trillion dollar tax breaks, increased defense spending, and a dramatic hike in the federal borrowing limit. It also extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, eliminates taxes on tips and overtime, and pours money into immigration enforcement and the military.
But here’s the kicker: the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects it will balloon the deficit by as much as $2.5 trillion next year alone. That’s not a typo. Musk, never one to mince words, called it “crushingly unsustainable debt” for American citizens.
I’ve covered enough budget fights to know that “pork” is a four-letter word in D.C.—and Musk used it liberally, accusing lawmakers of stuffing the bill with pet projects for their districts.
A Rift in the Republican Ranks
Musk’s broadside didn’t just rattle the White House; it exposed deep fissures within the GOP. Senate Majority Leader John Thune tried to play it cool, telling reporters, “We have an agenda that everybody campaigned on, most notably the president.” But the subtext was clear: not everyone’s on board.
Senator Rand Paul, never shy about deficit spending, flatly refused to support the bill if it included a debt ceiling hike. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson, who reportedly spent 20 minutes on the phone with Musk trying to win him over, sounded almost wounded: “My friend Elon is terribly wrong… I just deeply regret he’s made this mistake.”
It’s not lost on anyone that Musk, who donated over $250 million to Trump’s campaign last year, is now the face of Republican resistance to the bill. As one senior GOP aide told me, “When you lose Elon, you lose the room.”
Democrats Find an Unlikely Ally
Here’s where things get weird: Democrats, who have spent years lambasting Musk for everything from labor practices to his Twitter antics, suddenly found themselves nodding along. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer quipped, “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.”
Senator Chris Murphy, never one to pass up a zinger, called Musk “a broken clock right twice a day,” but admitted the criticism stung for the GOP.
The Personal and the Political
Musk’s public break with Trump comes just days after his high-profile White House send-off. His tenure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE, yes, really) was marked by ambitious promises—$2 trillion in cuts, a leaner federal government—but ended with only a fraction of those savings realized.
I’ve heard from sources inside the administration that Musk’s relationship with Trump soured over the bill’s size and scope. One aide described “tense meetings and shouting matches,” with Musk pushing for deeper cuts and Trump insisting on more spending for his priorities.
What Happens Next?
The Senate is now wrestling with the bill, and the July 4th deadline looms. Trump and his allies are scrambling to keep the party in line, but Musk’s intervention has emboldened fiscal hawks and complicated the math.
Meanwhile, Musk’s own fortunes are in flux. Tesla shares are down 13% this year, and his political capital—once sky-high in MAGA circles—has taken a hit. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned covering both tech and politics, it’s that Musk relishes a fight, especially when the stakes are this high.
A Final Thought
Watching this unfold, I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a longtime Hill staffer: “In Washington, loyalty is currency, but so is timing. Musk picked his moment.”
Whether this is a principled stand or a calculated pivot, one thing’s clear: the battle over Trump’s tax bill just got a lot more interesting—and a lot more unpredictable.