Elon Musk has created a massive rift within the Republican Party as he is now leading a revolt against President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill.
The billionaire entrepreneur warns that the $3 trillion tax plan would impose “debt slavery” on future generations of Americans.
Musk did not mince words when he took to his X platform, calling the legislation a “disgusting abomination” that threatens to bankrupt America.
He declared, “KILL the BILL” and urged Americans to “Call your Senator, Call your Congressman. Bankrupting America is NOT ok!”
The tech mogul’s demands have resonated with fiscal conservatives who worry about the nation’s ballooning debt, even as President Trump pushes forward with his signature economic plan.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add a staggering $2.4 trillion to US deficits over the next decade, with $600 billion coming in the next fiscal year alone.
This massive spending package includes extending the 2017 tax cuts, increasing defense funding, and financing mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
Despite donating over $290 million to Republican candidates in 2024 and briefly serving in the Trump administration, Musk has drawn a red line on fiscal responsibility.
He is actively encouraging Americans to contact their representatives, warning that financial collapse would threaten the nation.
What is particularly concerning for conservatives is that the bill proposes lifting the debt ceiling by an additional $4 trillion.
Several Republican senators, including Ron Johnson, Rick Scott, and Rand Paul, have joined Musk in expressing serious concerns about the bill’s fiscal impact, creating unexpected resistance within the party.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has pushed back against Musk’s criticism, defending the legislation as necessary for American economic growth.
“I think he’s flat wrong. I think he’s way off on this, and I’ve told him as much, and I’ve said it publicly and privately,” Johnson stated.
Some Republicans have dismissed Musk’s influence, despite his enormous platform and financial support for the party.
North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer remarked:
“If Elon was going to give me advice on how to get to the moon, I’d listen. If he was going to give me advice on how to raise several billion dollars from other billionaires, I’d listen. But he doesn’t govern. To be honest, he’s just not that big a factor.”
Adding to the controversy, the bill would phase out the $7,500 electric vehicle tax credits that have benefited Musk’s Tesla company.
Musk personally appealed to Speaker Johnson to preserve these subsidies, arguing they are crucial for American energy independence.
Musk has suggested drafting a completely new spending bill that does not significantly increase the deficit or debt ceiling.
His sudden opposition has created strange bedfellows, with some Democrats welcoming his comments and highlighting bipartisan concerns about fiscal responsibility.
President Trump has not publicly responded to Musk’s criticism, though White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that “the President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.”
