‘I can't stand it anymore': Elon Musk blasts Trump's tax spending bill in post on X
Former White House cost-cutting chief Elon Musk has taken aim at US President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful' tax and spending package, calling it a 'disgusting abomination' as the Senate moves to pass the bill before July 4.
In a post on X, Mr Musk's social media platform, he wrote: 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it'.
Having left the Trump Administration last week, Musk described the measure as a 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill.'
Mr Musk's latest criticism targets a package that includes tax cuts and reductions to Medicaid and food assistance. Last month, he joined other critics in arguing the bill failed to curb the federal deficit.
The bill is projected to increase budget deficits by $2.7 trillion ($AU4.18tn) through 2034, though an official estimate is still pending. Supporters say the tax cuts will spur enough economic growth to offset the fiscal gap.
After passing the House by a single vote, the bill is now before the Senate, where lawmakers like Senators Ron Johnson and Rick Scott are pushing for deeper cuts. The Senate is expected to amend the bill before sending it back to the House.
'The Senate must make this bill better,' Senator Mike Lee wrote in response to Mr Musk's post.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump 'already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,' and that Mr Musk's criticism 'doesn't change the president's opinion.'
Mr Trump and Mr Musk appeared together at a farewell Oval Office event last week, publicly affirming their partnership.
The current proposal would extend and expand tax cuts, including bigger deductions for state and local taxes and new breaks for tips, overtime, and Social Security benefits. It also allocates funds for border security, defense, and farm support, while cutting spending on green-energy tax credits, Medicaid, and food assistance.
Senators are considering further changes, particularly to Medicaid and clean energy provisions.
Senator Rand Paul, who objects to the bill's debt-limit increase, said both he and Musk 'have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better.'
Mr Trump responded to Paul's criticism on social media on Tuesday, saying the senator 'has very little understanding of the (big, beautiful bill), especially the tremendous GROWTH that is coming.'
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