By Ebi Kesiena
Just days after departing his role in the Trump administration, Elon Musk has criticized the Republican-led Congressional spending package backing Donald Trump’s second-term agenda.
Posting on X Tuesday, the tech billionaire and former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) denounced the legislation as a “disgusting abomination.”
“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore, this massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it you know you did wrong.” Musk wrote.
Musk warned the bill would balloon the federal deficit to $2.5 trillion and saddle Americans with “crushingly unsustainable debt.” His comments appeared to reference the Congressional Budget Office’s projection that the bill would increase the deficit by $2.3 trillion due to tax cuts and ramped-up spending on immigration enforcement and the military.
Despite being a prominent Republican donor during the 2024 election cycle, Musk has grown increasingly critical of Trump’s economic agenda. In a follow-up post, he called on voters to remove lawmakers who supported the bill: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
The criticism took many Republicans by surprise, particularly as the Senate works to revise the legislation amid internal divisions. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged Musk’s previous work but pushed back on his position: “On this particular issue, we have a difference of opinion.”
Also, House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the package as essential to economic growth and warned Musk against “meddling with” the economy, noting the bill includes a debt ceiling hike.
While some Republicans like Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz echoed Musk’s concerns about excessive spending, others brushed off his remarks.
Meanwhile, the White House stands still by the bill. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “one big beautiful bill,” adding, “the President already knows where Elon Musk stands and it doesn’t change his opinion.”
