Billionaire innovator Elon Musk has thrown a wrench into President Donald Trump’s latest legislative push, taking to his own platform, X, to rally Americans against a budget bill that could reshape federal spending.
Newsmax reported that Musk is fiercely opposing what’s been dubbed Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a cornerstone of the president’s second term, which narrowly squeaked through the House and now awaits a Senate showdown.
This isn’t just a quiet disagreement—Musk, who recently stepped away from a special role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, has turned up the volume with a barrage of posts on X, the social media giant he owns.
“Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok!” Musk blasted on X, and let’s be honest, when a man who’s built rockets and electric cars says something’s a disaster, you might want to listen.
He didn’t stop there, adding, “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.” Well, that’s a polite way of saying some lawmakers might need a mirror to face their fiscal choices.
The bill in question isn’t just any piece of paper—it’s a reconciliation budget measure that Musk and some Republican senators argue fails to trim enough fat from federal spending, especially with the deficit already sitting at a hefty 6.3% of GDP as of 2023, per Federal Reserve data.
Other Republican senators aren’t thrilled either, pointing to Medicaid reforms in the bill as a sticking point that could hurt vulnerable Americans. It’s rare to see this much pushback from within the party on a signature Trump initiative.
Musk, never one to mince words, fired off another shot on X: “No one who actually reads the bill should be able to stomach it.” Ouch—turns out even a beautiful bill can look ugly under the microscope of scrutiny.
He’s even suggested scrapping it entirely, urging a rewrite that doesn’t balloon the deficit or hike the debt ceiling by trillions.
A sensible idea, perhaps, but one that’s easier said than done in the halls of Congress.
Adding to the drama, Musk’s opposition came hot on the heels of his exit from a government efficiency role, a move that caught even allies off guard. House Speaker Mike Johnson admitted as much, noting the sudden change in tune.
“Elon and I left on a great note,” Johnson said, reflecting on their parting. “And then yesterday, 24 hours later, he does a 180 and he opposes the bill, and it surprised me, frankly.”
That’s politics for you—one day you’re shaking hands, the next you’re dodging rhetorical jabs. Musk’s pivot shows even close allies can clash when the stakes are this high.
Musk’s posts aren’t just rants—he’s spotlighting a real concern with the federal deficit already straining the economy. When he says a new bill shouldn’t add trillions to the debt, it’s a reminder that fiscal responsibility isn’t a partisan issue, it’s a national one.
Even his nod to a video by Sen. Mike Lee, featuring Warren Buffett, with a simple “This is the way,” suggests Musk is aligning with heavyweights who see the danger in unchecked spending. It’s a subtle jab at those pushing the bill—sometimes less is more, even in rhetoric.
As the Senate debates this behemoth of a bill, all eyes are on whether Musk’s influence can sway enough lawmakers to rethink their votes.
With some Republican senators already uneasy about spending cuts and Medicaid changes, this fight is far from over. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that ignoring the warnings of a man who’s reshaped industries might just cost more than a few political points.