Elon Musk is publicly distancing himself from former ally Donald Trump over a House-passed spending bill that he says will worsen the federal deficit and undermine his government reform efforts.
In a CBS interview set to air this Sunday, Musk said the bill increases—not decreases—spending, contradicting the fiscal goals of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.
Musk criticizes “One Big Beautiful Bill”
“The bill actually raises the deficit,” Musk said, referring to the legislation championed by Trump. “It undermines what DOGE has worked hard to accomplish.”
The bill, officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, was passed by the House with a narrow 215-214 vote and now heads to the Senate.
Trump responds with mixed signals
Asked about Musk’s comments, Trump said he was “not happy about certain aspects” but still praised parts of the bill.
“It’s very big. It’s the big, beautiful bill,” Trump told reporters. “We’re working on it, but we need the votes.”
Trump added that negotiations would continue and emphasized House Speaker Mike Johnson’s role in crafting the bill.
Bipartisan backlash growing
- GOP senators like Rand Paul and Ron Johnson have echoed Musk’s concerns, citing the $2.3 trillion deficit increase projected by the Congressional Budget Office.
- The bill includes significant Medicaid cuts, potentially stripping coverage from over 8 million Americans.
- Critics argue the bill sacrifices essential programs while failing to rein in wasteful spending.
Musk, meanwhile, is reportedly stepping back from his White House role to refocus on Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures.
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