In an unexpected turn of events, former President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his disappointment in tech mogul Elon Musk, after the billionaire lashed out at Trump’s significant tax and spending bill. Musk, who was once a prominent supporter and adviser to Trump, called the bill “outrageous” and a “disgusting abomination” just days after stepping down from his role leading the Department of Government Efficiency, commonly known as ‘DOGE’.
The bill itself has been the subject of heated debate. Passed by House Republicans in May, it promises multi-trillion-dollar tax cuts, which Trump has hailed as a “big, beautiful bill.” In stark contrast, Musk has described it as a “big, ugly bill”, signalling a significant rift between two of America’s most influential figures.
In a passionate outburst on his social media platform X, Musk shared his frustrations about the bill, declaring, “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.” In American political jargon, “pork” refers to government spending intended to benefit constituents—here, Musk indicated he believes the bill is riddled with unnecessary expenditures.
Trump, in response, did not hold back. He remarked, “I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” suggesting that Musk’s critical stance stems from a desire to once again be positioned in government—and attributing it to what he termed “Trump derangement syndrome.”
Tensions further rose when Musk, in a series of scathing tweets, insisted that he had not been privy to the bill prior to its passage and lambasted the manner in which it was expedited through Congress. His comments included a bold assertion: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.”
Moreover, Trump spoke to reporters about Musk’s apparent dissatisfaction with the current deliberations regarding electric vehicle incentives in the Senate, expressing concern that these incentives might face cuts—a situation that does not sit well with Musk, the CEO of electric automaker Tesla.
The divide between the two public figures has widened, particularly after Musk championed Jared Isaacman, a notable billionaire and commercial astronaut, for a leadership role at NASA. Trump openly denounced this move, deeming it inappropriate as Isaacman is “totally a Democrat.”
In the wake of the fracas, Musk’s father, Errol Musk, stepped in to provide some context, insisting to Sky News that there is “no rift between Elon and Donald Trump,” despite his son’s evident frustrations. He also expressed doubts about Elon’s political acumen, stating, “he’s not a very good politician.”
As the fallout from Musk’s comments continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this discord will influence their relationship moving forward.