‘Musk has bad info': Mike Johnson downplays billionaire's warnings on Trump's ‘Big, Beautiful bill'
Speaker Mike Johnson firmly sided with US President Donald Trump in his fallout with Elon Musk, dismissing Musk's criticism of the GOP tax and budget bill. Johnson said the bill isn't crafted to 'please the richest man in the world' but to help working families. Despite Musk's public pushback and threats to fund opposition, Johnson says Republican offices have received 'almost no calls,' claiming the public sees the legislation as exciting and necessary. Show more 01:55
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Hindustan Times
15 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
House passes $9.4B federal budget cuts targeting PBS, NPR, and foreign aid
(Bloomberg) -- The US House approved $9.4 billion in Elon Musk's DOGE federal spending cuts, with Republican moderates swallowing their concerns about cutting previously approved spending for foreign aid and public broadcasting. The White House's spending cancellation package passed the House on a 214 to 212 vote. It faces a more uncertain future in the Senate where moderates have voiced opposition to some of the cuts and could strip them out of the package. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the Senate may amend the package before it votes on it in July. The bill would codify DOGE's unilateral cuts to the US Agency for International Development and the US Institute of Peace. USAID cuts have been criticized for endangering lives in developing countries that rely on help from the US. The measure also approves cuts of more than $1 billion for the entity that funds the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. The cuts were designed by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency but opponents say only Congress can take away funding that it approved. The White House promised to send many more cut requests if this bill passed. 'It's very important for it to pass and if it does, it will be worth the effort and we'll send up additional packages,' White House Budget Director Russ Vought told House members last week. Skeptics of the House tax bill, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years, have cited making DOGE cuts permanent as key to their support. 'In DOGE we trust,' said Representative Tom McClintock of California. Cuts to rural PBS stations as well as to a successful foreign aid program to combat AIDS started by former President George W. Bush gave some Republican moderates pause but they dropped their opposition under pressure from GOP leaders. 'They're not touching the medical side of it, the medicine side, so I feel better than what I was hearing last week, that it was going to be a total cut,' Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said of the anti-AIDS program known as PEPFAR. In the Senate, moderates Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said they would seek to strip out the anti-AIDS funding cuts. The bill would eliminate advanced funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds PBS and NPR, entities which have long been targeted by conservatives for alleged liberal bias. President Donald Trump has derided the outlets as a drain on taxpayer money that he says provide unfavorable coverage to him. The public media outlets receive a small portion of their funding from federal sources in addition to dollars from sponsors and individual donors. The networks have said that smaller stations could close as a result of the cut. The proposal was submitted by the Trump administration under a fast-track procedure that cannot be filibustered by minority Democrats in the Senate. If the Senate doesn't act within 45 days, the funds would be distributed. Critics of Musk's DOGE effort say that its unilateral cuts and mass firings are illegal under the 1974 Impoundments Control Act and the only way to legally rescind funding is to go through Congress. Vought has said that without Congress's approval, the administration has the right to simply refuse to spend the money, an assertion that would certainly be challenged in court. --With assistance from Gregory Korte. More stories like this are available on ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
India Today
31 minutes ago
- India Today
I like Tesla: Trump softens tone after Musk backtracks in ugly feud
US President Donald Trump said he still likes Tesla, even after a public spat with its CEO, Elon Musk. Speaking at a White House event on Thursday, Trump said, "I like Tesla," and added, "A lot of people love the electric. They like Tesla. So do I. In all fairness, I like Tesla and I like others too, but I also like combustion engines."advertisementHe had threatened to move his red Tesla to the White House. Trump made these comments during an event where he officially ended California's strict electric vehicle (EV) rules. While signing documents to cancel the state's EV mandates, Trump joked, "Now we know why Elon doesn't like me so much, which he does, actually. He does."The joke was a nod to the recent argument between the two. Musk lashed out at Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' calling it a "disgusting abomination." He even said the president should be impeached, to which, Trump responded by saying he was "disappointed" in Musk. BREAKING: President Trump says "I like Tesla." DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) June 12, 2025MUSK SAYS HE WENT TOO FAR Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has since admitted he went too far with his online posts about Trump. On Wednesday, Musk wrote on his social media platform X, "I regret some of my posts about President Donald Trump last week. They went too far."advertisementHe deleted several posts related to Trump -- including the post where he supported the idea of Trump being impeached. However, he still believes the Trump tax bill will only increase the country's financial tension between the two all-weather friends escalated to an extent that Musk even talked about starting his new political party. But things calmed down after close aides to both men stepped President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and David Sacks -- a friend of Musk and a senior Trump advisor on crypto -- all worked behind the scenes to bring Musk and Trump back on good to reporters at the Kennedy Centre, Vance confirmed he had spoken to both Trump and Musk. "We're trying to ensure that Elon is publicly supporting and privately supporting the president's agenda," Vance said. He also mentioned that Trump was "rightfully very frustrated" by Musk's comments but didn't want to continue fighting with InMust Watch
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
‘You're unfit to lead': Hegseth grilled over Signal chats, Greenland invasion plan; House hearing erupts over Pentagon chief's evasive responses
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth faced intense scrutiny at a combative House Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, after appearing to confirm that the Pentagon has contingency plans to invade Greenland and Panama if necessary. He also refused to provide direct answers about his use of encrypted Signal chats to discuss military operations — a move that triggered bipartisan concern over potential breaches of protocol. 'Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any contingency,' Hegseth said in response to Rep. Adam Smith's (D-Wash.) pointed question about whether the Pentagon had invasion plans for Greenland or Panama. While it's standard for the Pentagon to prepare contingency strategies, Hegseth's vague responses prompted a sharp rebuke from Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio): 'I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony.' Hegseth attempted to defuse the moment by saying, 'We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure that it is secured from any potential threats.' The session grew heated as Hegseth evaded repeated questions about his alleged disclosure of operational details — including strike times and munitions — during U.S. attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen, shared via Signal with both military officials and family members. Lawmakers pressed him on whether he had revealed classified material, but he avoided directly answering. 'What's not classified is that it was an incredible, successful mission,' Hegseth said, sparking more backlash. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a Marine veteran, challenged Hegseth on his accountability: 'Would you hold yourself accountable if the Inspector General finds that you leaked classified information?' Hegseth only replied that he serves 'at the pleasure of the president.' In one of the most charged moments of the hearing, Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) told Hegseth, 'You're an embarrassment to this country. You're unfit to lead. You should just get the hell out.' Republican lawmakers defended Hegseth, criticising what they called 'flagrant disrespect,' while Hegseth responded, 'I'm happy to take the arrows' in pursuit of what he called difficult decisions. Lawmakers also questioned the politicisation of the military following a recent campaign-style speech by former President Donald Trump at Fort Bragg, where uniformed troops were seen cheering and booing political opponents, with MAGA merchandise sold nearby. Gen. Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the committee he was unaware of any violations, reaffirming that service members must remain apolitical. Hegseth was further grilled on his stance regarding women and transgender troops. He defended cutting diversity programs and asserted he wants the 'most capable troops,' but avoided clear answers on gender equality in combat roles. 'It depends on the context,' he said, arguing that women 'carry a rucksack differently.'
