Elon Musk just dropped a political bombshell by pulling back his financial support for Republican midterm campaigns, sending the GOP scrambling to curry his favor, according to Just The News.
Musk's journey into Republican politics began as a supporter of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the 2022 primary, later throwing his weight behind President Donald Trump after the assassination attempt in Butler, Pa.
As Musk pushed for aggressive cuts through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he became a lightning rod for criticism, facing lawsuits, public protests, and even vandalism at Tesla dealerships. The media painted him as a villain, while Congress—especially GOP lawmakers—offered little defense.
His ambitious goal to slash $2 trillion in government waste to balance the budget met with skepticism, even as DOGE claimed $175 billion in savings through asset sales, contract cancellations, and fraud reduction. That figure, while impressive, falls far short of the original target, leaving Musk visibly frustrated with the lack of legislative backbone.
Musk didn't hold back, stating, "I did my best," in response to Congressional disinterest. Well, turns out standing up for fiscal sanity makes you a target, not a hero, in Washington’s swampy corridors.
Even as Musk financed key races like Brad Schimel’s bid for Wisconsin’s Supreme Court seat on April 1, 2025, Republican leaders showed little enthusiasm for that battleground fight. Their hesitance to defend DOGE against Democratic attacks or codify Musk’s proposals into law only deepened his disillusionment.
Last week, Musk announced he’s scaling back political spending for the midterms, a gut punch to Republicans who’d counted on his deep pockets. House and Senate leaders, who’d been slow to act, suddenly woke up to the reality of losing their billionaire benefactor.
"I think I’ve done enough," Musk declared. And who can blame him when the party he backed seems more interested in photo ops than fighting for real cuts?
Now, with Musk set to exit government service on May 30, 2025, Republican leaders are scrambling to prove their loyalty.
Reports emerged on Wednesday that the White House is pushing a rescissions package to codify $9.3 billion in DOGE cuts, targeting public broadcasting and foreign aid, as per Politico.
While $9.3 billion sounds substantial, it’s a mere sliver of the $175 billion in savings DOGE identified, let alone the $1.5 trillion over 10 years targeted in a broader Trump-aligned bill. It’s a token gesture, and Musk hasn’t commented on whether it’s enough to change his mind.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis weighed in on Tuesday, saying Musk "took massive incoming" for his efforts and called Congressional inaction a "betrayal of voters." That’s a polite way of saying the GOP dropped the ball while Musk took the heat.
House Speaker Mike Johnson chimed in on Wednesday, praising DOGE’s work in exposing government waste and promising swift action on cuts.
It’s a nice sentiment, but with House Republicans clinging to a narrow majority and midterms historically unkind to incumbents, they’ll need more than words to win Musk back.
Musk himself hinted at resilience, stating on Wednesday evening, "DOGE's mission will only strengthen over time."
Perhaps he sees a future beyond the current political mess, but for now, the GOP’s got some serious groveling to do if they want his checkbook reopened.