Elon Musk Slams Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” as a “Disgusting Abomination” Amid Growing Republican Rift

Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire and tech magnate, has sparked political tremors in Washington after publicly criticizing President Donald Trump’s new spending bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination" in a series of posts on X. The comments mark Musk’s first open disagreement with Trump since stepping down from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last week.

Musk lambasted the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, asserting that it is "pork-filled," would “massively increase the deficit to $2.5 trillion,” and pushes the nation toward bankruptcy. His frustration was echoed by fiscally conservative Republicans, especially Senate hardliners, who fear the bill’s consequences on the national debt. Independent analysts project it could add up to $4 trillion over a decade, while the Congressional Budget Office estimates $3.8 trillion will be added to the existing $36.2 trillion national debt.

Despite Musk’s strong words, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that the President is unmoved, stating, "This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it." Trump echoed this sentiment, praising the legislation in a press conference, claiming it would “cut deficits” and expressing a desire for further tax cuts. Interestingly, Musk, who was present during the conference, chose not to speak up at that moment.

This escalating controversy reveals deep fractures within the Republican Party. Senate Republicans remain divided, with deficit hawks like Senator Mike Lee demanding deeper cuts, while others seek to protect Medicaid and green energy investments. With a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, Republicans can only afford to lose three votes, making the bill's path to passage highly precarious.

Musk's criticisms have now become a litmus test of his political influence post-DOGE, especially considering his prior $300 million support for Trump’s campaign. While Trump allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Musk as “terribly wrong,” others, such as Senator Ron Johnson, signaled agreement, suggesting a possible delay in the bill’s passage beyond the July 4 deadline.

As negotiations continue, some lawmakers propose shifting controversial tax proposals like overtime pay exemptions and Social Security tax breaks to future bipartisan legislation. Whether Musk’s intervention derails the bill or merely adds pressure for revisions remains to be seen.