Trump suggests Elon Musk is suffering from ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome'
Shortly after Elon Musk officially left his White House office, he apparently felt free to share some candid thoughts about the Republican Party's domestic policy megabill, the inaptly named 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act.' Evidently, the billionaire wasn't impressed.
Just one day after a joint appearance with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, during which the president rewarded his top campaign donor with praise and a golden key emblazoned with the White House insignia, Musk condemned Trump's proposal in striking terms, writing on the social platform he owns, 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. 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.'
Musk added soon after, apparently referring to lawmakers who voted for the GOP reconciliation package, 'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.' On Wednesday, he went further, launching an online 'KILL the BILL' effort.
Those expecting the president to return rhetorical fire with over-the-top online missives of his own were disappointed: Trump didn't say a word. On Thursday, however, just a few days after singing Musk's praises, the Republican had quite a bit to say. NBC News reported:
'I've always liked Elon,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a bilateral meeting with [German Chancellor Friedrich Merz], but he said he was 'very surprised' by Musk's comments denouncing the legislation. 'You saw the words he had for me. He hasn't said anything about me that's bad. I'd rather have him criticize me than the bill, because the bill is incredible,' the president said.
Putting aside the obvious fact that the legislation is far from 'incredible' — see the latest findings from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, for example — the president didn't just offer a vague defense of the far-right reconciliation package. On the contrary, Trump actually focused most of his comments on Musk specifically.
'Elon is upset because we took the EV mandate — which was a lot of money for electric vehicles — and they're having a hard time,' the president said, referring to a 'mandate' that does not exist while implying that Musk only opposes the GOP legislation because it'll affect his car company's profits.
Trump went on to suggest, in reference to former NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman, whom Musk lobbied for, that 'I didn't think it was appropriate.' Of course, that raises the related question of why the president nominated him in the first place if this was inappropriate.
That paved the way for the pièce de résistance: the president suggesting that his former DOGE chief is suffering from 'Trump derangement syndrome.'
'Elon and I had a great relationship,' the Republican concluded. 'I don't know if we will anymore.'
For his part, the GOP megadonor responded to Trump's claim that he 'knew the inner workings of the bill' as it came together, saying, '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 also discounted the idea that the electric vehicle provisions of the package have anything to do with his opposition.
I don't imagine we've heard the last of this.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
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