Elon Musk is no stranger to controversy. But on Tuesday, he did something few expected — he openly criticised Donald Trump.
Calling the former president’s flagship tax and spending proposal a “disgusting abomination,” Musk took aim at a bill that has already split Republican ranks and stirred outrage across the political divide.
“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on X, the platform he owns. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
He went further, accusing the bill of inflating the federal budget deficit to an eye-watering $2.5 trillion.
“It’s a slap in the face to every American trying to live within their means,” he wrote. “We are piling crushing, unsustainable debt onto future generations.”
The post marks a sharp turn for Musk, who previously worked with Trump as head of the short-lived Department of Government Efficiency — a position mocked online for its acronym, DOGE.
Trump Digs In
Despite Musk’s remarks, the White House is standing firm.
“Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. “It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”
The bill, dubbed the Big Beautiful Bill, has already passed the House of Representatives but is stalled in the Senate. Some Republicans say they won’t support it unless deeper spending cuts are made.
At the heart of the proposal are extensions to Trump-era tax breaks — a move that supporters argue will keep the economy humming. But critics, including fiscal conservatives, say the plan is packed with wasteful spending and gives unfair advantages to the wealthy.
Unlikely Allies
Musk isn’t alone in his criticism. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, a long-time Trump opponent and self-described democratic socialist, echoed the tech billionaire’s outrage.
“Musk is right,” Sanders wrote on social media. “This bill is an abomination.”
Sanders pointed to what he called “grotesque giveaways” to the rich — including $664 billion in tax breaks — while slashing $290 billion from programmes like food aid for low-income Americans.
“This isn’t just bad policy. It’s cruel,” he said.
A Growing Rift
The fallout highlights growing tension inside the Republican Party, with more lawmakers becoming vocal about concerns over rising debt. While Trump remains popular among the party base, some GOP senators are uneasy about the size and scope of the bill.
Economists are also watching closely. According to a recent analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill could add trillions to the national debt over the next decade if passed without offsetting cuts or revenue.
For Musk, the issue seems personal. Known for his hands-on approach to both business and politics, he has long campaigned for more efficient government.
“It’s not left or right. It’s common sense,” he wrote. “You can’t run a country like this.”
The debate over Trump’s bill is far from over. But with critics like Musk and Sanders finding common ground, pressure on lawmakers is only growing.
Whether Trump’s “big, beautiful” plan will make it through the Senate — or collapse under the weight of its own ambition — remains to be seen.
