WASHINGTON – On Saturday, Elon Musk intensified his criticism of President Donald Trump’s extensive tax and spending legislation. Musk claimed the bill, which Republican senators are pushing to pass, would result in job losses and stifle emerging industries.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country,” Musk wrote on X on Saturday, in anticipation of a Senate procedural vote to initiate debate on the nearly 1,000-page bill. “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
The birthdays of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO and his disapproval of the bill coincided, with Musk remarking that passing the bill would be “political suicide for the Republican Party.”
These criticisms revive a recent animated dispute between Musk, once the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, and the administration he recently departed. It also poses another challenge for Republican Senate leaders, who worked diligently over the weekend to push the legislation through before Trump’s deadline on the Fourth of July.
Musk has previously expressed his disapproval of Trump’s legislative initiative, criticizing it as a “pork-filled” and “disgusting abomination” shortly after leaving his government position, despite having departed with a celebratory affair at the Oval Office.
In earlier comments on X, Musk admonished those supporting the bill, stating, “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” He further threatened repercussions against lawmakers who, in his view, “betrayed the American people,” suggesting he might reconsider political donations.
Following Trump’s dismay over Musk’s comments, tensions escalated between the two, with Musk implicating Trump in the controversies surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, albeit without evidence to support such claims.
Musk attempted to mend relations with the administration, expressing regret over his more extreme comments. Trump, addressing the issue with The New York Post, offered a conciliatory remark, saying, “Things like that happen. I don’t blame him for anything.”
The impact of Musk’s recent criticisms on his previously improved relations with the president is yet uncertain. The White House did not immediately provide a statement regarding Musk’s remarks.
Recently, Musk has concentrated on his business ventures, while his political influence has lessened since leaving governmental duties. Nevertheless, he invested significantly in Trump’s 2024 campaign, showcasing the potential impact of his financial contributions if motivated to support a candidate or cause.
Despite no direct comment on Musk, Trump applied pressure on reluctant Republican senators, particularly during the rare Saturday evening procedural vote. He singled out Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina for his rejection of the bill, accusing him of seeking publicity and threatening opposition to his re-election.
In the end, the Senate narrowly passed the initial test vote late Saturday night, enabling the legislative debate to proceed.