Elon Musk blasts Trump’s tax bill as ‘disgusting abomination’, warns of soaring US debt and GOP fallout

Elon Musk has launched a scathing attack on former US President Donald Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination” and accusing Republican lawmakers of betraying the American people. This marks the tech billionaire’s most pointed criticism of Trump yet, and highlights a deepening divide between the two once-close allies.

The contentious bill, passed by the House of Representatives last month, includes multi-trillion dollar tax cuts, a significant boost to defence spending, and a controversial raise of the US debt ceiling to $4 trillion. It also aims to extend tax breaks from Trump’s 2017 reforms and fund mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

“Shame on those who voted for it,” Musk posted on X, criticising the bill as “outrageous” and “pork-filled”, claiming it would explode the US budget deficit to a staggering $2.5 trillion and burden citizens with “crushingly unsustainable debt”.

Musk’s remarks come just days after stepping down from his advisory role in the Trump administration, ending a 129-day stint where his cost-cutting team, Doge, worked on identifying potential budget reductions. Despite Trump calling Musk “always with us,” their policy alignment now appears to be fraying.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the billionaire’s outburst, reiterating Trump’s endorsement of the “big, beautiful bill”. Meanwhile, Trump’s camp accused critics like Senator Rand Paul of lacking understanding and dismissed Musk’s stance as misinformed—particularly after Speaker Mike Johnson revealed a recent 20-minute call with Musk regarding the bill’s impact on Tesla and electric vehicle tax credits.

Musk’s grievances reportedly include denied proposals to integrate Starlink into the FAA’s air traffic control system, blocked over concerns about conflicts of interest.

Despite past criticism of Musk, several Democrats seized on his remarks. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “Even Elon Musk, who was part of Trump’s circle, says this bill is bad. That says it all.”

With a 4 July deadline looming, the bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces fresh hurdles. Republicans remain divided, with some pushing back against provisions that raise the debt ceiling and reduce foreign aid, public broadcasting budgets, and international development spending—reforms proposed to win over fiscal conservatives.

Musk, who donated over $250 million to Trump’s campaign last year, has vowed political retribution: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”