Elon Musk has publicly criticized a recent economic bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This move shows a clear break from former President Donald Trump, who Musk once strongly supported. Musk had backed Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign financially but now opposes the bill’s scale and spending priorities.
The bill, which was narrowly approved by the House last week, includes large tax cuts and a significant increase in defense spending. It is now waiting for the Senate’s final approval before becoming law. Musk said the bill goes against efforts he once led to control federal spending. He served as an adviser to Trump focused on budget cuts.
Musk expressed disappointment over the bill’s large spending increases. He said it would raise the national deficit instead of reducing it. Analysts predict the legislation could add about $600 billion to the budget shortfall in the next fiscal year. The bill also reverses progress made by a government program called Doge, which Musk helped lead to improve efficiency and cut costs, including international aid and federal workforce reductions.
Musk’s comments highlight growing divisions within the Republican Party. The bill barely passed the House, with opposition from both fiscal conservatives and moderate Republicans. Trump defended the bill’s tax benefits but did not respond to Musk’s criticism when asked.
The economic bill extends Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, boosts military funding, supports deportation efforts, and raises the debt ceiling to $4 trillion. Musk’s statements suggest he is distancing himself from the Trump administration. Previously, Musk donated over $250 million to Trump’s political efforts and led a campaign aimed at cutting $1 trillion in government spending.
The Doge program claims $175 billion in savings so far, but independent experts say the figure lacks clear proof. Musk also announced plans to reduce his political donations and confirmed his commitment to lead Tesla for at least the next five years. His involvement in government spending cuts has caused public protests, boycotts, and a drop in Tesla sales.
Musk maintains that the cuts were necessary to remove fraud and abuse from federal programs. Both he and Trump argued that these measures were essential to improve government efficiency and financial health.
The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate. If passed, it could shape U.S. tax and defense policy for years. Musk’s criticism may influence other business leaders and lawmakers concerned about rising government debt.
