While speaking to CBS, Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.
READ MORE: House Republicans narrowly passed Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill.
Here’s what’s in it “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said.
“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said at one point.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next decade.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Elon Musk is attacking the main piece of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda, causing a serious rift in a partnership that was established during the campaign last year and had the potential to transform American politics and the federal government into something new.
Having served as a senior adviser in Trump’s administration and contributing at least $250 million to his campaign, the billionaire businessman expressed his disappointment with what the president refers to as his “big beautiful bill.”. “”.
The bill combines increased immigration enforcement with tax cuts. Speaking to CBS, Musk called it a “massive spending bill” that “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and raises the federal deficit.
READ MORE: Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ bill was just barely approved by House Republicans. This is its contents.
Musk stated, “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful.”. I’m not sure, though, if it could be both. “.”.
His interview with CBS aired Tuesday night. Questions were not immediately answered by White House representatives. Republicans are currently discussing the legislation in the Senate after pushing it through the House recently.
Musk makes these remarks as he exits the government and recommits to businesses like SpaceX, a rocket manufacturer, and Tesla, an electric carmaker. Because “I think I’ve done enough,” he has also stated that he will cut back on his political expenditures. “.”.
He has occasionally come across as chastened by his government work experience. He had anticipated that DOGE would result in $1 trillion in spending reductions, but he has fallen well short of that goal.
He said to The Washington Post, “I didn’t realize how bad the federal bureaucracy situation was.”. Although it is difficult to make improvements in D.C, I believed there were issues. to put it mildly. “”.
Musk had previously talked a lot about the chance to change Washington. In addition to holding his own campaign rallies and wearing campaign hats in the White House, he discussed excessive spending as an existential crisis.
He was also very complimentary of Trump.
At one point, Musk stated, “The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy.”. To be honest, I adore him. “”.
In return, Trump called Musk “a truly great American.”. He demonstrated his support by converting the White House driveway into a temporary showroom when Tesla’s sales started to decline.
What effect Musk’s remarks regarding the bill would have on the legislative discussion is unknown. He assisted in igniting opposition to a spending measure during the transition period, when the nation was in danger of a federal government shutdown.
However, Trump continues to hold a dominant position within the Republican Party, and many lawmakers have been reluctant to defy him when he seeks to advance his agenda.
In a draft estimate, the Congressional Budget Office predicted that while the changes to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs would lower spending by just over $1 trillion over the same ten-year period, the tax provisions would raise federal deficits by $3.08 trillion.
Though outside watchdogs are dubious, House Republican leaders claim that higher economic growth would enable the bill to be deficit neutral or reducing. The bill would increase the debt by $3 trillion over the next ten years, including interest, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
Kevin Freking of the Associated Press also contributed.
