'Disgusting Abomination': Elon Musk Criticises Donald Trump's Tax Bill, White House Reacts
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The tech billionaire's remarks come shortly after his abrupt exit from the administration last week.
Elon Musk has sharply criticized President Donald Trump's flagship tax and spending legislation, calling it a 'disgusting abomination". Reacting to Musk's comments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president remains unfazed and he already knew where 'Elon Musk stood on this bill".
The controversial bill—passed by the House of Representatives in May—includes multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks, increased defence spending, and provisions that expand the federal government's borrowing capacity.
'Shame on those who voted for it," Musk posted on X on Tuesday.
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.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 3, 2025
The tech billionaire's remarks come shortly after his abrupt exit from the administration last week, following a 129-day stint leading a cost-cutting initiative through his advisory group, Doge.
Musk doubled down on his criticism in a series of follow-up posts, warning that the bill would 'massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to USD 2.5 trillion" and claiming that 'Congress is making America bankrupt."
Officially titled the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act," the legislation builds upon Trump's 2017 tax cuts while significantly boosting funding for the military and border security. However, it also proposes cuts to key social programs including Medicaid, food assistance, and other welfare schemes.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill would add around USD 3.8 trillion to the federal government's current USD 36.2 trillion debt over the next ten years.
Senate deliberations on the bill are ongoing, with Trump reportedly making direct calls to senators to secure backing for his landmark legislative effort.
White House Dismisses Musk's Criticism
The clash highlights ongoing tensions between Musk and the administration over fiscal policy, even as the bill continues to polarize opinion across political and economic circles.
At a Friday press conference held in the Oval Office, President Trump hailed the legislation as 'an unbelievable bill" that 'cuts your deficits," while adding that he would have liked 'a bigger cut in taxes." Musk did not revisit his criticism of the bill during the event.
First Published:
June 04, 2025, 06:56 IST
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