Donald Trump brushes off Elon Musk's disappointment over Tax Bill spending, says, ‘have to get a lot of votes'
US President Donald Trump brushed off criticism from billionaire donor and adviser Elon Musk regarding the cost of his flagship tax bill, telling reporters Wednesday that certain compromises were necessary to ensure the legislation's passage.
'Number one, we have to get a lot of votes,' Trump said. 'We can't be cutting — you know, we need, we need to get a lot of support.'
Elon Musk, who headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce federal spending, expressed his frustration in an interview with CBS News.
He said he was 'disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.'
Musk's comments echo some fiscal hawks who have argued that Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' — which pairs new tax cuts with an increase to military and border spending — could add trillions to the deficit.
'I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both,' Musk said.
The bill narrowly cleared the House last week, but it is anticipated to undergo substantial revisions in order to gain the backing of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.
'We will be negotiating that bill, and I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it,' Trump said. 'That's the way they go.'
The president said ultimately the legislation was worth it because of 'the level of tax cutting that we're going to be doing.'
In a separate interview with the Washington Post, Elon Musk expressed frustration that DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency he led, had become a scapegoat for criticism.
'DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,' Musk said at the Starbase launch site in Texas ahead of SpaceX's latest launch on Tuesday.
'Whenever something goes wrong anywhere, we get blamed even if we have nothing to do with it.'
I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both.
He also remarked, 'The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized. I knew there were problems, but trying to improve things in D.C. is definitely an uphill battle, to say the least.'
(With inputs from agencies)
Number one, we have to get a lot of votes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
26 minutes ago
- India Today
US pause on visa interviews worries Indian students, expert says relief soon
The US administration has paused all fresh visa interview scheduling for foreign students, causing significant uncertainty and concern amongst thousands of international students, including Indian students, as well as overseas education consultants who assist students in securing admission to universities the academic session approaching, many fear that delays could impact their travel plans and university enrolment. However, Viral Doshi, an educational consultant, feels otherwise. He has urged students to remain calm, assuring them that the suspension is temporary and that visa interview slots are expected to reopen pause in visa interview scheduling is being seen as the latest development in a series of measures by the Trump administration aimed at tightening immigration screening. Doshi believes that students and parents do not need to worry, as the issue will soon be resolved and the US will begin prioritising students who need to start their academic year in August or September."They've only halted the visa interviews; they haven't said that visas will no longer be issued. The process has been paused to allow for the implementation of a social media policy. Once that is finalised, they will resume interviews for all students," Doshi told India Today SOME TIME, US WILL SORT OUT VISA ISSUE: DOSHIUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently said that the State Department plans to issue updated guidance on social media vetting of student and exchange visitor applicants following a review. He recommended that all US consulates worldwide pause the scheduling of such visa media vetting involves reviewing a visa applicant's online presence and activity to assess their suitability for entry into the United said, "The issue isn't specific to India — it's happening worldwide. All international students have been impacted by this diktat from the US Secretary of State.""I don't think students need to worry at all. I believe that within the next one or two weeks, once the policy is in place, they will prioritise students who need to be at their universities in August or September. Yes, it's a bit of a concern, but the US also needs international students. Give it some time, they will sort it out," he STUDENTS MULLING TO CONSIDER OTHER COUNTRIES: REPORTAccording to reports, some Indian students who planned to study in the US are even considering alternative countries for their light of the US Embassy's warning in New Delhi and the Trump administration's policies on students and immigrants, students from Hyderabad are exploring options in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, and the UK, Hyderabad-based newspaper The Siasat Daily the embassy posted on X, warning that students who drop out, miss classes, or leave their academic programs without notifying their institutions will face student in Hyderabad, preparing for the IELTS exam and planning to pursue a master's degree abroad, revealed on condition of anonymity that he abandoned his US plans due to the changing policies, according to The Siasat Daily. Another student stated that he had already decided to apply to Australia instead of the other Indian students remain determined to fulfil their American who spent years preparing for her MSc in Human-Centric Computing at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, describes her current state as 'a mix of hope and anxiety.""I don't have a Plan B because this programme aligns perfectly with my academic goals," she told The New Indian Express, emphasising that deferring would be preferable to abandoning her US aspirations on the other hand, offers a different perspective. Admitted to Carnegie Mellon University for an MSc in Information Security and Internet of Things (IoT) Engineering, he recently got his visa describes the approval as "a big weight off my shoulders" but acknowledges that many other students are still waiting and that the situation remains uncertain, The New Indian Express suggest international students injected $43.8 billion into the US economy in 2023-24.A total of 3.31 lakh Indian students were studying in the US in the academic year 2023-24, making up 29.4% of its 11 lakh international student population, according to the Open Doors 2024 Watch
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
US inflation gauge cools with little sign of tariff impact, so far
US inflation gauge cools with little sign of tariff impact, so far (Photo: AP) A key US inflation gauge slowed last month as President Donald Trump's tariffs have yet to noticeably push up prices, while American incomes jumped. Friday's report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices rose just 2.1 per cent in April compared with a year earlier, down from 2.3 per cent in March and the lowest since September. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.5 per cent from a year earlier, below the March figure of 2.6 per cent. Economists track core prices because they typically provide a better read on where inflation is headed. The figures show inflation is still declining from its post-pandemic spike, which reached the highest level in four decades in July 2022. Economists and some business executives have warned that prices will likely head higher as Trump's widespread tariffs take effect, though the timing and impact of those duties are now in doubt after they were struck down late Wednesday in court. The inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve said at their most recent meeting May 6-7 that inflation is still elevated, compared to their target of 2 per cent. Fed officials, who focus more on core prices, broadly support keeping their key interest rate steady while they evaluate the impact of the tariffs on inflation and jobs. The court ruling last Wednesday said that most of Trump's tariffs were unlawful, including his duties on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, as well as those on more than 50 other countries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cinnamon: The Greatest Enemy Of Blood Sugar (See How To Use It) bloghealthnet Learn More Undo Tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars were implemented under different laws and remain in place. But the duties were allowed to remain in effect while the Trump administration appeals the ruling against them. And administration officials say they will find other legal authorities, if needed, to implement the tariffs. As a result, what tariffs will end up in place and for how long remains highly uncertain. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
'So much for being nice guy': Donald Trump reignites trade tensions, warns China it has violated tariff deal
US president Donald Trump on Friday again raised tensions amid the ongoing tariff war with China, attacking Beijing for "totally violating its agreement with the US", and adding that he was no longer going to be "Mr. Nice Guy". In a post on Turth Social, Trump said: "Two weeks ago China was in grave economic danger! The very high Tariffs I set made it virtually impossible for China to trade into the United States marketplace which is, by far, number one in the World. We went, in effect, cold turkey with China, and it was devastating for them. Many factories closed and there was, to put it mildly, "civil unrest". I saw what was happening and didn't like it, for them, not for us. I made a fast deal with China in order to save them from what I thought was going to be a very bad situation, and I didn't want to see that happen. Because of this deal, everything quickly stabilised and China got back to business as usual. Everybody was happy! That is the good news!!! The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, has totally violated its agreement with US. So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" US trade representative Jamieson Greer, in a CNBC interview on Friday, echoed Trump's allegation, saying "we are very concerned with" China's purported non-compliance with the temporary trade deal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Has Honda Done It Again? The New Honda CR-V is Finally Here. TheFactualist Undo The "United States did exactly what it was supposed to do, and the Chinese are slow rolling their compliance,"said Greer. He called that "completely unacceptable and has to be addressed." US-China trade war The US-China trade war escalated significantly under Trump's leadership, with tariffs reaching unprecedented levels, including a 145% tariff on Chinese imports as part of the so-called "Liberation Day" trade package. These tariffs caused China's manufacturing sector to contract sharply, with the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) dropping to its lowest in 16 months, signaling a decline in factory activity and export orders. The tariffs disrupted China's export sector, with some estimates showing cargo shipments fell by as much as 60%, and the broader economy also showed signs of weakening growth. Trade deal Following the economic strain, a historic trade agreement was reached in May in Geneva, where both the US and China agreed to reduce tariffs by 115% while maintaining an additional 10% tariff. China also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs and suspend non-tariff countermeasures against the US. This deal was hailed by the Trump administration as a significant win, aimed at addressing unfair trade practices and reducing the massive US trade deficit with China. Fresh tensions However, despite the deal and initial stabilisation, Trump has now accused China of completely violating the agreement. The latest statement comes amid a volley of punitive measures by the US against China, including revoking visas for Chinese students and halting sales of critical technologies to Chinese firms. US officials expressed frustration that China failed to fulfill key commitments, such as easing export restrictions on rare earth minerals vital for advanced technologies. These developments underscore the ongoing tensions and the fragile nature of the trade relationship between the two economic superpowers. The economic impact of the tariffs and trade conflict has been significant on both sides. The US economy experienced a contraction in early 2025, with slowed growth, higher consumer prices, job losses, and market volatility. Retailers raised prices due to increased operational costs, and inflation rates have climbed. The uncertainty and disruptions caused by the tariffs have also unsettled financial markets, reflecting broader concerns about the stability of global trade. China's response to the trade war has extended beyond tariffs, including export controls and diplomatic efforts to counter U.S. measures. Beijing has warned against yielding to US tariff pressures and has threatened retaliation against countries that cooperate with US trade policies targeting China. Despite government stimulus efforts, China's GDP growth is expected to fall below official targets, indicating ongoing economic headwinds.
