Billionaire Elon Musk ignited controversy on Tuesday by fiercely criticizing President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” that would balloon the federal deficit. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO took to his social media platform X to voice his frustration, writing: “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it—you know you did wrong.”
Musk’s outburst resonated with Republican deficit hawks, who have raised concerns about the bill’s $3.8 trillion addition to the national debt. The legislation, which extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts while increasing military and border security spending, narrowly passed the House last month. Now, its fate in the Senate—where Republicans hold a slim majority—remains uncertain as fiscal conservatives push back.
Despite Musk’s criticism, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) defended the bill, stating Republicans remain committed to passing it by July 4. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Musk’s remarks, saying, “My friend Elon is terribly wrong.” The debate intensifies as Senate Republicans prepare to meet with Trump to discuss making business tax cuts permanent—a move analysts warn could further inflate costs.