Elon Musk renews attack on Trump’s bloated bill just as it faces a critical Senate vote
Elon Musk on Saturday reignited his criticism of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending legislation, warning that the nearly 1,000-page bill Republican senators are pushing forward would inflict long-term economic damage and stall innovation.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country,” Musk posted on X, as the Senate prepared for a crucial vote to begin debate on the controversial package. “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2025
Utterly insane and destructive. It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future. https://t.co/TZ9w1g7zHF
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, whose birthday also fell on Saturday, didn’t stop there. He followed up with a sharper warning: the bill would be “political suicide for the Republican Party.”
Musk’s renewed attacks underscore ongoing tensions between him and the Trump administration—a relationship that has turned increasingly volatile after Musk’s high-profile departure last month from his role at the Department of Government Efficiency. The latest remarks also create more turbulence for Republican leaders desperate to pass the legislation ahead of the Fourth of July deadline set by Trump.
Musk hasn’t held back in the past either. Shortly after his exit from the administration, he denounced the bill as “pork-filled” and called it a “disgusting abomination.”
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” he wrote on X earlier this month. In another pointed message, the billionaire and longtime Republican donor hinted he would withdraw financial support for lawmakers who, in his words, “betrayed the American people.”
That prompted a rare public rebuke from Trump, leading to a brief, bitter exchange. Musk responded by suggesting, without offering proof, that Trump might have ties to documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein—an accusation that set social media ablaze.
Although Musk later attempted to tone things down, admitting some posts “went too far,” Trump took a conciliatory tone in a New York Post interview, saying, “Things like that happen. I don’t blame him for anything.”
Now, Musk’s fresh criticism threatens to reignite the feud just as Republican senators are trying to maintain party unity on a contentious bill. The White House declined to comment on Musk’s remarks Saturday evening.
While avoiding any direct response to Musk, Trump vented frustration during a rare Saturday session on Capitol Hill. As senators endured a lengthy procedural vote, Trump lashed out at GOP holdouts—especially Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, accusing him of chasing attention with his opposition vote and vowing to campaign against him in 2026.
Though Musk’s direct political influence has faded since stepping down from his federal post, his financial clout remains significant. Having invested hundreds of millions in Trump’s 2024 campaign, the billionaire still holds the power to shake the GOP if he chooses to reenter the political arena with fresh donations—or warnings.
Note to our readers: This report is based on verified information from the Associated Press and public statements by relevant individuals. All quotes are preserved as originally stated to ensure journalistic transparency.
