On Thursday, tech mogul Elon Musk replied to Trump’s criticism of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” in a post on X, further fueling their rivalry over the plan.
If it weren’t for me, Trump would have been unsuccessful, the Democrats would have taken over the House, and Republicans would have a slim majority in the Senate (51 to 49). Angrily, Musk responded to Trump’s comments against him in an online article.
In an interview with reporters held in the Oval Office, Trump expressed his “very disappointment” about Musk’s outspoken opposition to the measure. Before the electric vehicle incentives were reduced, the president asserted that Musk was aware of the bill’s contents and “had no problem” with it.
It’s disheartening since Elon had a greater grasp of the bill’s mechanics than most of you here, including yourself. There was nothing he didn’t know. “He was completely fine with it,” Trump stated. “Out of nowhere, he encountered an issue. And he didn’t start acting up until he heard we were going to have to reduce the EV mandate.
“This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” Musk said in response to the president’s assertion in another X post.
In response to Trump’s proposed legislation, the Tesla creator has been an outspoken critic of the president, his administration, and Republicans in recent days. Musk wants a “Slim, Beautiful Bill” and has referred to it as the “Big Ugly Bill.”
Musk had earlier on Thursday brought attention to Trump’s previous tweets that appear to be in line with the tech magnate’s present stances and his opposition to the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
On Thursday afternoon, Trump used to social media to bash Musk, the man he selected to the position of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and to discover methods to reduce $2 trillion.
Elon was ‘due for a break,’ I expelled him, removed his EV mandate that had compelled everyone to purchase unpopular electric cars (something he had suspected for months I would do!), and he went absolutely bonkers! Trump stated in a single post.
We can save many billions of dollars in our budget by cutting off Elon’s contracts and government subsidies. The fact that Biden never did it has always astonished me! he wrote in another.
The speaker of the house, Mike Johnson, has also spoken out against Musk, calling his opposition to the bill “surprised” and adding fuel to the fire. The Republican member described Monday’s meeting with Musk, whom he calls a “friend,” as having a “great conversation” over the plan. According to Johnson, Musk was “flat wrong” on the bill, as he told reporters on Wednesday.
House of Representatives Thomas Massie (R–KY), Senate Rand Paul (R–KY), and Senator Mike Lee (R–UTA) are among the Republicans who have publicly stated their support for Musk. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) agreed with Musk that Americans are “quickly becoming debt slaves.”
The House has already passed the measure, so now it’s on to the Senate to ensure it is enacted before Trump’s deadline of July 4.