, June 29 -- Elon Musk escalated his critique of President Donald Trump's major tax and expenditure reduction plan on Saturday, cautioning that the bill, which Senate Republicans are rapidly pushing forward, could imperil American employment opportunities and emerging sectors.
Musk tweeted on X shortly before the Senate conducted a preliminary vote to start discussions on the extensive legislation, stating, “The newest iteration of the Senate bill will eliminate millions of American jobs and deliver a significant strategic setback to the nation.” He also argued, “This draft favors obsolete sectors while weakening those essential for our future development.”
The wealthy CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who marked his birthday on Saturday, subsequently referred to the legislation as "political suicide for the GOP."
Musk’s recent statements reignited a public dispute with the administration from which he has freshly stepped down after leading the Department of Government Efficiency. These comments add more complexity to the efforts of Republican Senate leaders, who have been diligently trying to gather sufficient support to achieve Trump’s aim of getting the bill passed before July 4th.
For weeks, Musk has strongly opposed what he refers to as Trump’s “so-called ‘big, beautiful wall.’” After leaving his position in the administration last month—a transition highlighted by Trump at a White House event—Musk criticized the policy as excessively wasteful spending and called it a repulsive measure.
Society should condemn those who supported this — you understand that you have let down your nation," he wrote on X earlier this month. In an additional post, the prominent GOP contributor suggested he could cut off funding for politicians he charged with "disloyalty to the American people.
Their conflict intensified after Musk, without providing proof, claimed that Trump’s name appeared in papers connected to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This assertion heightened strains between them, even though they had previously been allies.
Musk subsequently tried to defuse the situation by acknowledging that certain comments he made earlier had overstepped boundaries. In response, Trump minimized the event during an interview with The New York Post, stating, "Such occurrences are common. It doesn’t bother me."
Musk's fresh assaults have thrown doubt upon the brief ceasefire he and Trump seemed to establish. The White House chose not to remark on Musk's recent comments.
After leaving the realm of politics, Musk has concentrated mainly on his entrepreneurial activities, reducing his direct involvement in political matters. Nonetheless, his significant financial support—having invested hundreds of millions into Trump’s 2024 presidential run—demonstrates the impact he could have should he choose to re-enter the political arena.
Although Musk avoided direct confrontation with Trump on Saturday, President Trump intensified his criticism against Senate Republicans during an extraordinary late-night session. He specifically targeted holdouts such as Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina, accusing him of posturing with his opposing vote and warning that he would campaign against his potential future candidacy for reelection.
Even with the drama unfolding, the Senate barely cleared the procedural hurdle late Saturday, enabling the official debate on the bill to start.