Elon Musk has launched a vehement critique against the GOP's signature tax bill, championed by former President Donald Trump as the 'big beautiful bill,' labeling it a 'disgusting abomination' and a 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill.' This sharp condemnation from the tech billionaire has elicited a direct response from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who defended the legislation and stated that Musk is 'terribly wrong' in his assessment. The bill in question was passed by House Republicans on May 22 and is now a subject of significant debate.

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his disappointment with Musk's critique, noting his personal regard for Musk as 'a good friend' and 'a very intelligent person.' Johnson revealed that he had engaged in a 'friendly conversation' with Musk for over 20 minutes by telephone on Monday, during which he 'extolled all the virtues of the bill.' Despite this, Musk took to X on Tuesday afternoon (identified in one account as June 3, 2025) to voice his strong opposition, stating, 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.'

A significant point of contention for Musk and other critics is the bill's financial impact. It is projected to increase the US deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next decade, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a figure Musk highlighted when claiming it would burden citizens with 'crushingly unsustainable debt.' The bill itself, which GOP lawmakers aim to have on Trump's desk by July 4, reportedly includes multi-trillion dollar tax cuts, a substantial increase in defense spending, a controversial measure to raise the US debt ceiling to $4 trillion, extensions of tax breaks from Trump’s 2017 reforms, and funding for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

This is not the first instance of Musk voicing disapproval of the tax bill. In an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning' that aired on June 1, he expressed disappointment with what he termed 'the massive spending bill,' noting its potential to increase, rather than decrease, the budget deficit. He quipped, 'I think a bill can be big, or it could be beautiful. I don't know if it could be both.' Musk's pointed criticism comes shortly after he announced his departure from the Trump administration on May 28, concluding a 129 or 130-day tenure as a special government employee leading the White House DOGE office (or Doge team), which was focused on identifying potential budget reductions. While Musk acknowledged having 'differences of opinion' with the Trump administration, he refrained from detailing them publicly to avoid creating further contention. Despite President Trump previously stating Musk was 'always with us,' their policy alignment now appears to be strained.

The White House, through press secretary Karoline Leavitt, downplayed Musk's outburst, reiterating President Trump’s endorsement of the 'big, beautiful bill.' Reports suggest that Trump’s camp has dismissed Musk's stance as misinformed, particularly after Speaker Johnson's call, which reportedly touched upon the bill's impact on Tesla and electric vehicle tax credits. Musk’s grievances with the administration might also stem from other areas, such as reportedly denied proposals to integrate Starlink into the FAA’s air traffic control system due to concerns about conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, Democrats have capitalized on Musk's comments, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer remarking, “Even Elon Musk, who was part of Trump’s circle, says this bill is bad. That says it all.”

As the legislation moves to the Senate, it faces additional challenges. Republicans in the upper chamber remain divided, with some members expressing reservations about provisions that raise the debt ceiling and implement cuts to foreign aid, public broadcasting budgets, and international development spending—measures purportedly included to appeal to fiscal conservatives. Despite having donated over $250 million to Trump’s campaign last year, Musk has issued a stark warning of political retribution, vowing, “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.” This entire episode underscores a significant and public divergence between the tech mogul and sections of the Republican party over fiscal policy and government spending.