The tech executive criticized the president’s legislation in a series of posts on Tuesday, signaling a widening rift with Republicans.
Elon Musk lashed out on Tuesday against the far-reaching Republican bill intended to enact President Trump’s domestic policy agenda, posting on X that it was a “disgusting abomination” and telling House members who voted for it: “You know you did wrong.”
The tech billionaire’s criticism of the bill, one of Mr. Trump’s top priorities, was another indication of a widening rift between Mr. Musk and the president. Mr. Musk — who has left his governmental role leading the Department of Government Efficiency — largely presented a united front with the Trump administration until recently.
Last month, Mr. Musk started publicly criticizing Mr. Trump’s bill, saying in an interview with CBS News’s “Sunday Morning” that he was disappointed in the legislation’s size and impact on the deficit.
On Tuesday, Mr. Musk ramped up his criticism, writing on X: “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore.” He called the bill “massive, outrageous, pork-filled.” In follow-up posts, he said, “It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit,” and “Congress is making America bankrupt.”
“The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,” said Karoline Leavitt, a White House spokeswoman. “It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he’s sticking to it.”
Mr. Trump has urged swift passage of the legislation — officially called the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act — which would slash taxes, providing the biggest savings to the wealthy, and steer more money to the military and immigration enforcement. As written, the legislation would cut health, nutrition, education and clean energy programs to cover part of the cost.
Mr. Musk’s criticism comes at a critical moment for the bill, which passed the House in the face of a strong pressure campaign by Mr. Trump. As Speaker Mike Johnson corralled several competing Republican factions, the president summoned recalcitrant holdouts to the White House, and his staff likened Republican opposition the bill to “the ultimate betrayal.”
But Republican senators have already made clear that they planned to make changes to the bill, which outlines spending and tax cuts. Fiscal conservatives, alarmed at estimates that the bill would add trillions to the national debt, have demanded further changes and cuts to Medicaid and other programs that could help rein in deficits.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Shawn McCreesh and Theodore Schleifer contributed reporting.