Musk's Rage 'Helps Bolster' GOP Senator's Efforts Against Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' Lawmaker Says
Sen. Ron Johnson said Elon Musk's explosive criticism of Donald Trump's sweeping tax-and-spending plan helps reinforce Republican opposition to the bill, which some in the GOP warn will worsen the federal deficit.
The latest divide within the party comes as lawmakers debate Trump's so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill," a legislative package that his allies say fulfills campaign promises but that fiscal conservatives like Johnson argue is too costly.
Musk's public meltdown over the bill, paired with his threats to oust supporters and revelations that he donated over $250 million to Trump's campaign, has further complicated the politics surrounding the measure, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
In a series of social media posts this week, Musk claimed Trump wouldn't have been reelected without him, accused the former president of ties to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, and called for his impeachment. Trump fired back by threatening Musk's federal contracts and accusing him of trying to sabotage the legislation to protect electric vehicle tax breaks for Tesla.
While Johnson welcomed Musk's support in questioning the bill's fiscal impact, other Republicans brushed off the feud. Rep. Derrick Van Orden called the dustup a "tempest in a teapot" and reiterated his loyalty to Trump.
"I think it has an impact," Johnson said. "I think it helps bolster, certainly, my case that we have to address this."
Rep. Tom Tiffany said Musk's input came too late to make a difference. Still, some lawmakers acknowledged that the billionaire's comments aren't helping the GOP unify behind the bill. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald said Musk's attacks weren't "helpful," and Rep. Troy Nehls accused Musk of having "lost [his] damn mind."
Despite the fallout, Van Orden said the legislation will move forward and insisted Trump is still leading the GOP.
Originally published on Latin Times
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
2 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Elon Musk Floats 'America Party' After Viral Poll Finds 80% Want New Political Party
Encouraged by the results of a social media poll, billionaire Elon Musk floated a name for what he described as a "needed" new political party: "The America Party." During Thursday's bombshell fallout between President Donald Trump and the former "first buddy," Musk polled followers on his social media platform. Five and a half million voters participated, with 80.4% voting yes, it is "time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle." Musk hailed the result as a sign from the universe. "The people have spoken. A new political party is needed in America to represent the 80% in the middle!" Musk wrote Friday afternoon. "And exactly 80% of people agree 😂 This is fate." Minutes later, he followed up with a potential name: "The America Party." The adversarial turn in Musk's relationship with the president was precipitated by his disapproval of Republican's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a roughly 1,100 page piece of legislation that is projected to add trillions to the national debt over the next ten years. Within a week of stepping away from his role in the White House at DOGE, Musk began publicly railing against the bill. On Thursday, Trump responded to Musk's complaints, accusing him of developing "Trump Derangement Syndrome" upon leaving the White House. "People leave my administration... and they wake up in the morning and the glamor's gone, the whole world is different, and they become hostile," Trump told press. The remarks spurred a flurry of posts by both men on their respective social platforms, including calls from Musk to impeach Trump and to form a new political party. Musk's vision for his role in "The America Party" is unknown. Because Musk was born in South Africa and is not a naturally born U.S. citizen, the constitution bars him from serving as president, but does not negate the possibility of holding other elected positions. He may not have interest in elected office anyway, as he has already demonstrated a capacity to wield political power through financial contributions and his social media platform, X, which hosts over 600 million users a month. No official announcement or organizational filing has followed the post so far, but the tech CEO seems resistant to leaving the political spotlight. Whether "The America Party" becomes a serious political force or stays the stuff of memes remains to be seen. Originally published on Latin Times
Int'l Business Times
2 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Trump Asking Advisors If Musk's Attacks Against Him Are Drug-Fueled: Report
President Donald Trump is privately asking advisers whether Elon Musk's recent erratic behavior—including a barrage of social media attacks and a bombshell claim tying Trump to Jeffrey Epstein—could be linked to the tech mogul's alleged drug use, according to a recent report. While Trump has publicly downplayed the fallout with Musk, claiming that he's "not even thinking about Elon," CNN reported that those close to the President say he's deeply unsettled by Musk's abrupt turn and privately questioning if it could be fueled by drug use. In the week since Musk wrapped up his work as a special government employee with a praise-filled ceremony in the Oval Office, the billionaire CEO launched a series of attacks on social media, first against the Republican's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, then the President himself. Publicly, Trump brushed off speculation about Musk's drug use. "I don't know what his status is," he told reporters aboard Air Force One. He went on to call New York Times reporting on Musk's drug consumption "very unfair." The report alleged that Musk used ketamine frequently, as well as other drugs, including psychedelic mushrooms, Ecstasy and Adderall—claims Musk has neither confirmed nor denied publicly. Still, Trump didn't rule out consequences for the billionaire. He said he would "take a look at" the possibility of canceling some of Musk's federal contracts, stating, "The U.S. can survive without almost anybody—except me," before clarifying it was a joke. The widening rift has already sparked political dilemmas and financial questions. Trump allies like his former chief strategist Steve Bannon have called for Musk's deportation and an investigation into his drug use, while House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed hope the two GOP power players might eventually reconcile. "I believe in redemption," Johnson said. "I hope we can resolve it, get everybody together again. That's really important for all of us." Musk has yet to signal hope of reconciliation. On Friday, he championed the idea of starting a new political party, "The America Party." As tensions escalate, the future of Musk's political donations—which exceeded $290 million during the 2024 cycle—remains uncertain. Originally published on Latin Times
Int'l Business Times
9 hours ago
- Int'l Business Times
Elon Musk Asks If It's Time for New Political Party Amid Feud With Donald Trump
Elon Musk has once again stirred political debate in the United States, this time by hinting at the creation of a new political party. The billionaire's move comes amid an escalating public feud with US President Donald Trump, raising questions about Musk's political ambitions and his influence over the American right. Elon Musk Posts Viral Poll on X On Friday, 6 June 2025, Musk posted a poll on his official X account asking: 'Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle?' Is it time to create a new political party in America that actually represents the 80% in the middle? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 The post quickly went viral, attracting over 89.4 million views and more than 5.6 million votes. At the time of writing, around 80.4% of respondents agreed that the United States needs a new party to represent the political centre, while 19.6% opposed the idea. Though the post did not mention Trump directly, the timing of the poll coincides with rising tensions between the Tesla boss and the US President. From Allies to Rivals: The Musk–Trump Breakdown Musk and Trump once maintained a close relationship, especially during Trump's campaign for a second term. Upon returning to the White House, Trump appointed Musk as a special government employee in a department ironically named the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. But the relationship has since soured. On Wednesday, 4 June, Musk was dismissed from his advisory role following repeated public criticisms of Trump's legislative agenda. In response, Musk took to X, claiming that Trump would not have won the election without his support. 'Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51–49 in the Senate,' Musk wrote. Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Trump, speaking to media, appeared to accept that the relationship had collapsed. 'Elon and I had a great relationship,' Trump said via NDTV. 'I don't know if we will anymore. I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot,' he added. Is Elon Musk Running for President? Despite the speculation, Musk has made no official statement about running for office. His recent poll and political commentary have reignited public interest, but the billionaire is legally ineligible to run for president. US law requires that presidential candidates be natural-born citizens. Musk, who was born in South Africa and became a US citizen in 2002, does not meet this requirement. However, this hasn't stopped his name from circulating in political circles. In 2024, several Democratic lawmakers labelled Musk the 'de facto' leader of the Republican Party, highlighting his growing influence over American politics and policy. What's Next for Musk in US Politics? Whether or not Musk intends to form a new party, his latest post signals a push to redefine political discourse. His call to represent the 'middle 80 percent' taps into widespread frustration with the polarised state of US politics. While a presidential bid remains off the table, Musk's political influence—fueled by his online reach, business empire, and media presence—continues to grow. With the 2028 election on the horizon, both Republicans and Democrats are likely to keep a close eye on his next move. Originally published on IBTimes UK
