Topline
Elon Musk appeared to warn Republicans who voted for President Donald Trumpâs signature policy bill Tuesday could lose their jobs, writing on X that during next yearâs midterms âwe fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,â escalating his criticism of the legislation days after he formally departed the White House.
Key Facts
Muskâthe richest man in the world who used his wealth to help elect Trump last year by donating more than $250 million towards his campaignâwarned âin November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American peopleâ in a post on X, among several Tuesday assailing Republicans who supported the legislation.
âIâm sorry, but I just canât stand it anymore,â Musk wrote earlier in the day, calling the legislation a âmassive, outrageous, pork-filled . . . disgusting abominationâ adding âshame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.â
The bill âwill massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debtâ Musk wrote in another tweet.
Muskâwho left his White House role Friday after a whirlwind stint leading the Department of Government Efficiencyâhas previously expressed more tempered criticism of whatâs formally known as the âOne Big Beautiful Billâ Act, telling CBS in a recent interview heâs âdisappointedâ by the bill and that it âcan be big or it can be beautiful.â
Chief Critic
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who shepherded the bill through the House at Trumpâs behest, coaxing Republican holdouts, told CNN âitâs very disappointingâ his âgood friendâ Musk disparaged the package. âWith all do respect, my friend Elon is terribly wrong about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill,â he said. Johnson said he âextolled all the virtues of the billâ in a âlongâ and âvery friendly conversationâ with Musk Monday, which Musk âseemed to understand.â Johnson also appeared to suggest the billâs rescission of electric vehicle mandates could be driving the Tesla CEOâs ire, but said he would âlet others draw their own conclusions about that.â
Big Number
$3.8 trillion. Thatâs how much the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add to the deficit over the next decade. The nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates it would add $1.7 trillion when accounting for economic growth.
Crucial Quote
âThe president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesnât change the presidentâs opinion,â White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday when asked by a reporter âhow madâ Trump might be at Musk.
Key Background
Musk left the White House Friday after spearheading a months-long effort to slash the size of the federal government. His âDepartment of Government Efficiencyâ laid off tens of thousands of workers, prompting multiple lawsuits against the firings and criticism from some Republicans who accused him of lacking compassion and precision in making the mass terminations. Musk and Trump insisted heâs leaving the White House on good terms and would continue to have a presence in the administration. Musk said he was leaving the White House because heâd already worked the 130 days he was allowed to work as a special government employee.
What To Watch For
Muskâs attack on the bill came as the president is pressuring Republican senators to approve the legislation by the July 4 deadline Senate leadership set to sign it into law. Trump pushed the bill in several Truth Social posts Monday and Tuesday, attacking Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., for his opposition to the bill because it would add to the deficit. The billâwhich sets the agenda to fulfill Trumpâs key campaign promises including an extension of his 2017 tax cuts and more border securityâpassed the House 215-214 on May 22 with two Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, voting against it, citing concerns it would add to the deficit.
Further Reading
Here’s Where Medicaid Cuts Stand In Trump’s Mega-BillâAffecting More Than 7 Million Americans (Forbes)
Musk Cuts Off Reporter Asking About Drug Use AllegationsâIncluding Ketamine, Ecstasy And Adderall (Forbes)
Musk Says Heâll Be Trumpâs âFriend And Adviserâ After Leaving White House (Forbes)