Trump says he's disappointed with Musk, unsure about their 'great relationship'
President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced disappointment over Elon Musk's stinging criticism of the Republican spending legislation, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill", and said the Tesla CEO had always been aware of the bill's key provisions - especially the proposed cuts to electric vehicle (EV) mandates."I'm very disappointed with Elon. I've helped him a lot. He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden he had a problem and he only developed the problem when he found out we're going to cut the EV mandate," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.advertisementThe president also suggested that Musk's opposition stemmed from the bill's plan to phase out federal consumer tax credits for EVs, a measure that would directly impact Tesla.
"Look, Elon and I had a great relationship. I don't know if we will anymore. He said the most beautiful things about me. And he hasn't said bad about me personally. That'll be next. But I'm very disappointed," Trump said.Musk, for his part, swiftly pushed back on X. "False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it," he wrote in response to Trump's remarks.In another post, Musk fired off: "Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil and gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill."advertisementReferencing the legislation's official title, Musk added sarcastically, "In the entire history of civilisation, there has never been legislation that is both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way."As Trump defended the bill from the White House, Musk simultaneously wrote, "Slim Beautiful Bill for the win" - a direct jab at the title of the bill and its contents.The clash marks a dramatic turn in a relationship that had, until now, largely been politically aligned. Musk, once one of Trump's staunchest supporters, had reportedly spent nearly USD 300 billion to back Republicans in the 2024 elections and had taken on a lead role in Trump's sweeping federal cost-cutting initiative as head of the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).But since stepping down from DOGE, Musk has become one of the most vocal opponents of the new legislation, unleashing a barrage of posts on X. "Call your Senator, Call your Congressman," he earlier urged his 200 million-plus followers. "Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL."He didn't hold back in earlier posts either. "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk had written on Tuesday. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
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