WASHINGTON, USA — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, labelling it a “disgusting abomination” in a pointed social media post that escalated Republican divisions over the controversial fiscal package.
Musk’s public rebuke comes at a delicate moment for the White House, as President Trump intensifies efforts to secure final passage of the bill, which pairs sweeping tax cuts with a debt ceiling increase.
The legislation is already under pressure from fiscal conservatives, and Musk’s comments are expected to embolden internal opposition.
“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk wrote.
“Shame on those who voted for it.”
I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.
This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.
Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025
The remarks follow his departure from a short-lived role heading the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative aimed at reducing federal expenditure.
The fallout from Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration reportedly dented his corporate image, with sales of Tesla’s electric vehicles taking a hit.
The tax bill in question includes provisions to scale back Biden-era incentives for clean energy and electric vehicle purchases — a move Tesla has publicly opposed.
The White House downplayed the criticism. “The President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
While House Speaker Mike Johnson called Musk’s comments “very disappointing,” some Republicans echoed his concerns.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah said the Senate “must make this bill better,” aligning with Musk’s call for a more fiscally restrained approach.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, reaffirmed support, repeating the president’s characterisation: “It’s one big beautiful bill.”
Analysts estimate the bill would reduce federal revenue by roughly $4 trillion over a decade, while adding about $2.5 trillion to the national deficit, despite deep cuts to welfare programmes including Medicaid and food assistance.
Tesla Energy, the automaker’s renewable division, also weighed in, warning that eliminating clean energy tax credits would “threaten America’s energy independence and the reliability of our grid” — a message later amplified by Musk himself.
