Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur known for his influence in technology and business, recently spoke out against a major policy move by former President Donald Trump. This public criticism marks a notable shift, especially since Musk played a significant role in helping Trump secure re-election in 2024.
Last week, the US House of Representatives narrowly approved what Trump proudly called his “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill. The legislation includes multi-trillion-dollar tax cuts and promises a significant boost in defense spending. Now, the bill moves to the Senate for further consideration.
However, Musk voiced strong disappointment with the plan in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, expressing concern that the bill contradicts the cost-cutting efforts he supported during his time working with the Trump administration. Musk had been brought in as a sort of cost-cutting advisor, heading the Department of Government Efficiency (nicknamed Doge), where he aimed to reduce government spending by eliminating wasteful projects, including cuts to foreign aid.
Musk said, “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly,” emphasizing that rather than reducing the budget deficit, the plan actually increases it. Experts estimate the legislation could raise the deficit by approximately $600 billion in the next fiscal year alone.
He also noted that the bill undermines the work his team at Doge has been doing. Musk famously commented on Trump’s description of the bill, saying, “I think a bill can be big or beautiful. I don’t know if it can be both.”
This development highlights a deep divide within the Republican Party. While tax cuts and increased defense funding have long been priorities for Trump, many Republicans remain uneasy about the growing deficit and the size of government spending.
Among other provisions, the bill proposes raising the debt ceiling to $4 trillion, which would increase the government’s borrowing capacity to pay its bills. It also aims to extend tax cuts from Trump’s 2017 administration and fund mass deportation efforts.
Musk’s comments suggest a distancing from Trump’s approach, despite having donated more than $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Recently, Musk announced his intention to step back from his role at Doge and indicated he plans to reduce his political spending going forward. Instead, Musk intends to focus more on leading Tesla for the next five years.
During Musk’s tenure with Doge, Tesla faced protests and boycotts, partly due to Musk’s controversial cost-cutting initiatives, including layoffs of thousands of federal workers and reductions in foreign aid.
As of April, Doge claims to have saved around $175 billion, though some experts question the full impact of these savings.
Musk’s public criticism of Trump’s spending bill serves as a reminder that even powerful allies may diverge on policies when they believe fiscal responsibility is at stake.
Author Profile
- Li Li, associate professor and master’s supervisor at Southwest University. B.A. in English for Education from Southwest Normal University, M.A. in English Translation and Interpretation from China Foreign Affairs University, Ph. D. in Japanese Cultural History from Nankai University (all above are in China). Also has studied at Osaka Sangyo University and Kokugakuin University in Japan and been a Fulbright visiting scholar to Western Kentucky University in US. A multidisciplinary and versatile instructor with a trilingual mastery of Chinese, English and Japanese, known for Combining foreign language teaching with history and humanity cultivation. Academic researches center on Japanese history, international relations and Western culture studies. Work experiences include teaching at Capital Normal University, Chongqing Normal University, and Southwest University. Has published multiple academic papers, translated works, authored or co-edited several textbooks and monographs; provided language services for several high-level and high-profile international events.
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