Elon Musk lashes out at the "Great America Bill," Trump is furious but unusually refrains from firing back
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Elon Musk lashes out at the "Great America Bill," Trump is furious but unusually refrains from firing back
Musk's shift from ally to public enemy tests Trump's tolerance.
Navigating Web3 tides with focused insightsAuthor: Ye Zhen, Wall Street Insights
Elon Musk has publicly criticized former President Trump’s signature tax cut legislation, a sudden rift that not only exposes the increasingly strained relationship between two of America's most powerful figures but could also threaten Trump’s legislative agenda.
On Wednesday local time, Musk—just days after stepping down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—escalated his attack on Trump’s "MAGA tax bill" to an unprecedented level. The Tesla CEO shared a still from the movie *Kill Bill* on social media, urging the public to contact lawmakers and “vote against” the bill, warning that “bankrupting America is wrong.”
More shockingly, Musk issued a direct call to action for his more than 200 million followers on X: “Call your senator, call your representative.” He reposted messages claiming the U.S. is “rapidly descending into debt slavery,” and proposed drafting new spending legislation to “avoid massive deficit increases” and “prevent raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion.”
This marks the second consecutive day Musk has publicly denounced the bill. On Tuesday, he first labeled the tax-cut legislation a “disgusting, ugly bill” and threatened to help “get rid of” Republican lawmakers who support it.
Analysts note that Musk, with a net worth of approximately $377 billion and serving as a key financial backer of the Republican Party, wields significant political influence. His opposition could strengthen resistance and delay progress on tax cuts and raising the debt ceiling.
Musk’s transformation from ally to adversary is testing Trump’s tolerance—but unusually, Trump has remained silent in the face of criticism that would typically provoke a fierce response.
Republican Divisions: Fiscal Hawks Reinvigorated, Establishment Pushes Back
Musk’s public opposition has re-energized fiscal conservatives within the Republican Party. Representative Thomas Massie praised Musk’s stance: “I thought he’d eventually come around.” Representative Andy Ogles said he had held a “friendly conversation” with Musk and agreed with his views.
However, many Republican lawmakers have expressed private fury toward Musk. According to reports, one unnamed House Republican bluntly stated: “He’s a complete joke. He has no idea what he’s doing. Nobody actually wants him here—we can’t wait to get rid of him.”
Another lawmaker sharply pointed out Musk’s conflict of interest: “Some of what he’s advocating now serves his own interests. So I guess now he’s just lobbying like everyone else.” These lawmakers implied that Musk opposes the bill partly because it eliminates electric vehicle tax credits beneficial to Tesla.
House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly dismissed Musk’s position as “entirely incorrect” and revealed he tried calling Musk late Tuesday night to talk, but Musk did not answer.
Musk’s Public Opposition Adds New Uncertainty to the “MAGA Bill”
With a net worth of about $377 billion and as a major Republican donor, Musk’s political clout cannot be ignored. His opposition may bolster resistance and delay legislation on tax cuts and increasing the debt ceiling. If he withdraws financial support from Republicans, the party’s chances of maintaining its majority in the 2026 midterm elections could suffer a major blow.
Nonetheless, Speaker Johnson remains confident that tax legislation can be finalized before the July 4 deadline set by Trump.
The House passed the bill last month. The Senate is now expected to make amendments, after which the revised version must return to the House for final approval before being sent to Trump’s desk by the July 4 deadline.
Trump Is “Very Angry”—But Stays Silent
In the face of Musk’s unprecedented public challenge, Trump—who is known for swift retaliation—has shown surprising restraint. According to media citing insiders, Trump is both confused and angry over Musk’s “180-degree turnaround.”
Speaker Johnson told House Republicans during a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that Trump himself is “very angry” at Musk. At a press conference afterward, Johnson said he speaks with Trump “multiple times a day,” and that the president is “unhappy with Elon’s 180-degree shift.”
One anonymous House Republican went further, telling the media: “The president can’t wait to get rid of him.”
Yet Trump has not publicly responded to Musk’s remarks. On Wednesday afternoon, he merely reshared a screenshot on social media—an old post in which Musk thanked Trump for letting him lead DOGE—without adding any comment.
The Complex Roots Behind the Breakdown
According to media citing sources, the conflict between Musk and the Trump administration goes far beyond the tax bill. The real flashpoint was the White House’s withdrawal of Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA.
Isaacman, closely tied to Musk’s SpaceX and a participant in the company’s first private orbital flight, was strongly backed by Musk for the role. The White House’s rejection angered Musk, who reportedly complained to associates that despite donating hundreds of millions of dollars to help elect Trump, Isaacman’s nomination was still pulled.
Additional points of friction include the White House rejecting Musk’s proposal for the Federal Aviation Administration to rely on his Starlink satellite system, and denying Musk’s request to continue working for Trump as a “special government employee” for an additional 130 days.
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