Elon Musk has escalated his war of words with Donald Trump, publicly condemning the former president’s colossal spending bill, and vowing political revenge on those who back it.
On Sunday (June 30), Musk, now serving as a “special government employee” focused on slashing federal costs, took to X to lash out at Republican lawmakers supporting the nearly 1,000-page bill currently grinding its way through the Senate.
The bill, a cornerstone of Trump’s agenda, includes sweeping defense boosts (including a proposed “Golden Dome” missile shield), massive tax breaks, and enough pork to make any fiscal conservative squirm. It’s also projected to pile another $3.3 trillion onto the U.S. national debt, which already stands at a staggering $36.2 trillion, according to Reuters.
“Anyone who campaigned on the PROMISE of REDUCING SPENDING, but continues to vote on the BIGGEST DEBT ceiling increase in HISTORY will see their face on this poster in the primary next year,” he wrote on X.
Trump, who just last week called Musk a “wonderful” and “smart” guy in a Fox News interview, fired back with a fiery post on Truth Social.
“Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one,” he wrote.
Trump then took aim at Musk’s businesses, accusing the Tesla and SpaceX CEO of relying on government handouts, writing (per Al Jazeera): “Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE.”
He added: “Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!”
To which Musk responded: “I am literally saying CUT IT ALL. Now.”
The two men were once close, Musk even dubbed Trump his “first buddy” in government circles, but the growing rift over fiscal priorities and energy policy has pushed them to opposite ends of the GOP power struggle.
The Senate continues to debate the bill, with a 20-hour window for amendments and a narrow path to final passage. If it survives, it still needs to return to the House, where it passed by just one vote last time.
Meanwhile, Trump is pulling out all the stops to sell the legislation to his base.
“Republicans, the One Big Beautiful Bill, perhaps the greatest and most important of its kind in history, gives the largest Tax Cuts and Border Security ever, Jobs by the Millions, Military/Vets increases, and so much more,” he posted on Truth Social. “The failure to pass means a whopping 68% Tax increase, the largest in history!!!”
But Musk isn’t buying it, and he’s hinting at a bigger political shakeup, saying (via The Guardian): “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
Whether that’s a real threat or just a tweet-storm remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: the bromance is over, and the battle over the budget is just getting started.
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