Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has unleashed a wave of criticism against President Donald Trump’s signature budget proposal, denouncing it as a “disgusting abomination” and warning that it would saddle the United States with unsustainable debt. Musk’s condemnation, delivered through a series of posts on his social media platform X, comes just days after his departure from the Trump administration, where he led the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)139.
A Deepening Rift Over Fiscal Policy
The controversial legislation, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” narrowly passed the House of Representatives in late May and is now under consideration in the Senate. The bill, a cornerstone of Trump’s legislative agenda, aims to extend the 2017 tax cuts, boost spending on military and border security, and make cuts to social safety-net programs such as Medicaid and SNAP579. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects that the bill would add between $2.4 trillion and $3.8 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, increasing the federal debt—which already stands at $36.2 trillion—to unprecedented levels5714.
Musk, who until last week was at the helm of DOGE, had previously voiced disappointment over the bill’s size and its implications for the federal deficit. But in his latest remarks, he escalated his rhetoric, declaring:
“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.”1379
He further warned that the bill would “massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden American citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt,” and accused Congress of “making America bankrupt.”7912
A Divisive Bill, Even Among Conservatives
Musk’s criticism has resonated with some fiscal conservatives in Congress, who have also balked at the bill’s price tag. The measure passed the House by a single vote, and its fate in the Senate remains uncertain as both hardline Republicans and Democrats express reservations5914. Some moderate Republicans have raised concerns about the impact of proposed cuts to healthcare and social programs, while others echo Musk’s warnings about ballooning deficits13.
Despite Musk’s high-profile rebuke—and his previous support for Trump, including more than $250 million in campaign contributions—the White House has dismissed his concerns. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president is already aware of Elon Musk’s stance on this legislation. It doesn’t alter the President’s perspective. This is one grand, beautiful bill, and he remains committed to it.”812
From “First Buddy” to Fierce Critic
Musk’s break with Trump on fiscal policy marks a striking shift. As DOGE chief, Musk was tasked with eliminating wasteful spending and reducing government infrastructure, leading to significant layoffs and cuts to foreign aid programs110. In a recent interview, Musk lamented that the new spending bill “undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing” and questioned whether a bill could be “big or beautiful, but not both.”10
The Road Ahead
With the Senate now deliberating the bill and Trump pushing for its passage by July 4, the legislative battle is far from over. Musk’s outspoken opposition has added fuel to an already heated debate, highlighting deep divisions within the Republican Party over the future of U.S. fiscal policy5914.
As the nation awaits the Senate’s decision, Musk’s words continue to reverberate in Washington and beyond: “Congress is driving America to bankruptcy.”
