The White House stood firmly behind the President Donald Trump-endorsed tax and spending legislation Tuesday, despite renewed and sharp criticism from outgoing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk. Musk labeled the bill a “disgusting abomination,” escalating his long-standing opposition to the legislation.
Musk, who has been openly critical of the reconciliation bill since its proposal, voiced his frustration again Tuesday afternoon on X (formerly Twitter). “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk wrote. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
The Bill and Political Reactions
The bill, often referred to by supporters as the “big, beautiful bill,” passed the House of Representatives in late May, primarily along party lines. Two Republicans broke ranks, voting against the measure due to concerns about inadequate spending cuts and the growing national debt. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has also indicated he likely will oppose the bill as it currently stands, citing the debt ceiling increase as a key issue.
President Trump has criticized Paul and others who oppose the bill but has taken a measured stance regarding Musk’s condemnation. During a Tuesday press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it.”
Musk’s Role and Continued Disappointment
Elon Musk, who led cost-cutting efforts at DOGE, previously expressed disappointment with the bill, particularly because he felt it undermined the efficiency work his team was pursuing. In a recent CBS interview, Musk said he was dismayed the bill did not reflect the cuts his office had identified.
In May, when asked about Musk’s criticism, President Trump responded cautiously, noting the political realities of passing the bill: “We had to get a lot of votes... We had no Democrats [supporting it]. If it was up to the Democrats, they’d take the 65% increase.”
GOP Leadership Responds
Following Musk’s latest remarks, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) expressed hope that Musk would reconsider his stance. “We have a difference of opinion about the legislation,” Thune said, adding that much of Musk’s cost-cutting work focused on discretionary spending, which the reconciliation bill does not address since it deals primarily with mandatory spending.
“We want to incorporate a lot of the savings that he found, and there are ways to do that,” Thune noted, signaling potential future negotiations.