Latest news with #domesticpolicy
Malay Mail
18 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Elon's revenge? Musk torpedoes Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill'
WASHINGTON, June 5 — Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has careened into an Elon Musk-shaped brick wall, complicating its passage into law and risking a schism between the most powerful man in the world and the wealthiest. The US president's 'big, beautiful bill' – the centerpiece of his domestic agenda – could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. But the package is getting a rough ride in Congress over proposals to fund an extension of his 2017 tax cuts by piling on debt and cutting social welfare for the poorest Americans. Enter tech billionaire Musk, who dropped a nuclear bomb on the 1,100-page blueprint at a crucial stage in negotiations Tuesday, calling it a 'disgusting abomination.' And on Wednesday he called for Republicans to 'kill the bill,' and for an alternative plan that 'doesn't massively grow the deficit.' In its latest estimate released Wednesday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill would add US$2.4 trillion to US debt by 2034. Musk, who last week ended his brief advisory tenure as Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief, tore into the bill in a prolonged denouncement. The South African-born tycoon has voiced concerns before, but his language was much more combative, coming across as a declaration of war on the Republican Party, if not Trump himself. The White House brushed off the criticism, saying Trump 'already knows where Elon Musk stood,' but the remarks will likely have gotten under the president's skin. 'Lennon and McCartney' The stakes could hardly be higher for Trump, who has made clear, with signature hyperbole, that he sees his bill as 'arguably the most significant piece of legislation that will ever be signed.' He has yet to respond personally to Musk's social media rant – sustained over six hours and 13 posts on Tuesday and still going well into Wednesday. But Washington watchers aren't necessarily expecting a public falling-out. Behind the scenes, a careful circling of the wagons is underway, with pro-Trump pundits under orders to refrain from trashing Musk and to instead frame his broadside as what Politico called 'principled self-interest.' Still, for analysts contacted by AFP, there may be choppier waters ahead. 'It's the Lennon and McCartney of modern politics. Two egos, one spotlight, and a fragile alliance built on mutual benefits,' said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR firm Red Banyan. 'The moment either one sees more upside in conflict than cooperation, the breakup goes public.' But political consultant and former Senate aide Andrew Koneschusky, a key player in negotiations over Trump's 2017 tax cuts, believes the Republican leader has nothing to gain by biting back. 'Musk has more money. Musk's megaphone, X, is bigger than Trump's. And Musk was deeply embedded in the administration for months,' he told AFP. 'There's no telling what Musk heard or saw that could be embarrassing or problematic for the administration if the two were to go to war.' 'Bromance' Musk – who has cash to spare for his political adventures, including US$280 million lavished on Trump's election campaign – slammed the Republicans who cleared the bill for Senate consideration and threatened to have their jobs in the midterms. And the de facto leader of America's 'tech bro' community demonstrated his political firepower with a single tweet in December that blew up a government funding bill that had enjoyed bipartisan support. His take on the deficit implications of Trump's proposals is evidenced by copious independent research and he was immediately backed by some fiscal hawks in the Senate. Continued interventions by Musk could be an ongoing headache for Trump, as he bids to shepherd his policy priorities through razor-thin Republican majorities in Congress. But cheerleaders of the package – and independent analysts contacted by AFP – believe the Tesla magnate may discover that his celebrity in Trumpworld relies on the say-so of its mercurial chieftain. 'Musk may have had influence in December when his bromance with Trump was in full bloom,' said Donald Nieman, a political analyst and professor at Binghamton University in New York state. 'But his break with Trump and his massive unpopularity with voters makes it easy for lawmakers to ignore him. If anything, it helps Trump by distancing him from a man who has become a pariah.' — AFP
New York Times
21 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
The Big Ugly Battle Over the Big Beautiful Bill
Hosted by Michael Barbaro Featuring Catie Edmondson Produced by Rob Szypko and Eric Krupke Edited by Rachel Quester and Liz O. Baylen Original music by Pat McCuskerMarion LozanoDan Powell and Rowan Niemisto Engineered by Alyssa Moxley President Trump has called the sweeping domestic policy bill that recently passed in the House the most important piece of legislation in his second term — a single bill that would unlock his entire domestic agenda. But as that bill heads to the Senate, it's raising questions among Republicans about whom Trumpism is really for. Today, the New York Times congressional correspondent Catie Edmondson joins 'The Daily' to talk about the big messy battle over what Republicans have named the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Catie Edmondson, a congressional correspondent for The New York Times. President Trump is pressuring Republicans to back his policy bill, but the measure's opponents have a powerful new ally: Elon Musk. Mr. Trump's policy bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt, the Congressional Budget Office said on Wednesday. That estimate was all but certain to inflame concerns over the fiscal consequences of the legislation. There are a lot of ways to listen to 'The Daily.' Here's how. We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode's publication. You can find them at the top of the page. The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Michael Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Sophia Lanman, Shannon M. Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez, Brendan Klinkenberg, Chris Haxel, Maria Byrne, Anna Foley and Caitlin O'Keefe. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson, Nina Lassam, Nick Pitman and Kathleen O'Brien.
Japan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Will ex-aide Musk leave a stink in the White House?
U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has careened into an Elon Musk-shaped brick wall, complicating its passage into law and risking a schism between the most powerful man in the world and the wealthiest. Trump's "big, beautiful bill" — the centerpiece of his domestic agenda — could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. But the package is getting a rough ride in Congress over proposals to fund an extension of his 2017 tax cuts by piling on debt and cutting social welfare for the poorest Americans. Enter tech billionaire Musk, who dropped a nuclear bomb on the 1,100-page blueprint at a crucial stage in negotiations Tuesday, calling it a "disgusting abomination." And on Wednesday he called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit." In its latest estimate released Wednesday, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill would add $2.4 trillion to U.S. debt by 2034. Musk, who last week ended his brief advisory tenure as Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief, tore into the bill in a prolonged denouncement. The South African-born tycoon has voiced concerns before, but his language was much more combative, coming across as a declaration of war on the Republican Party, if not Trump himself. The White House brushed off the criticism, saying Trump "already knows where Elon Musk stood," but the remarks will likely have gotten under the president's skin. 'Lennon and McCartney' The stakes could hardly be higher for Trump, who has made clear, with signature hyperbole, that he sees his bill as "arguably the most significant piece of legislation that will ever be signed." He has yet to respond personally to Musk's social media rant — sustained over six hours and 13 posts on Tuesday and still going well into Wednesday. But Washington watchers aren't necessarily expecting a public falling-out. Behind the scenes, a careful circling of the wagons is under way, with pro-Trump pundits under orders to refrain from trashing Musk and to instead frame his broadside as what Politico called "principled self-interest." Still, analysts say there may be choppier waters ahead. "It's the Lennon and McCartney of modern politics. Two egos, one spotlight, and a fragile alliance built on mutual benefits," said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR firm Red Banyan. "The moment either one sees more upside in conflict than cooperation, the breakup goes public." But political consultant and former Senate aide Andrew Koneschusky, a key player in negotiations over Trump's 2017 tax cuts, believes the Republican leader has nothing to gain by biting back. "Musk has more money. Musk's megaphone, X, is bigger than Trump's. And Musk was deeply embedded in the administration for months," he said. "There's no telling what Musk heard or saw that could be embarrassing or problematic for the administration if the two were to go to war." 'Bromance' Musk — who has cash to spare for his political adventures, including $280 million lavished on Trump's election campaign — slammed the Republicans who cleared the bill for Senate consideration and threatened to have their jobs in the midterms. And the de facto leader of America's "tech bro" community demonstrated his political firepower with a single tweet in December that blew up a government funding bill that had enjoyed bipartisan support. His take on the deficit implications of Trump's proposals is evidenced by copious independent research and he was immediately backed by some fiscal hawks in the Senate. Continued interventions by Musk could be an ongoing headache for Trump, as he bids to shepherd his policy priorities through razor-thin Republican majorities in Congress. But cheerleaders of the package — and independent analysts — believe the Tesla magnate may discover that his celebrity in Trumpworld relies on the say-so of its mercurial chieftain. "Musk may have had influence in December when his bromance with Trump was in full bloom," said Donald Nieman, a political analyst and professor at Binghamton University in New York state. "But his break with Trump and his massive unpopularity with voters makes it easy for lawmakers to ignore him. If anything, it helps Trump by distancing him from a man who has become a pariah."
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
A lingering Musk: Will ex-aide Elon get up Trump's nose?
Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy bill has careened into an Elon Musk-shaped brick wall, complicating its passage into law and risking a schism between the most powerful man in the world and the wealthiest. The US president's "big, beautiful bill" -- the centerpiece of his domestic agenda -- could define his second term and make or break Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. But the package is getting a rough ride in Congress over proposals to fund an extension of his 2017 tax cuts by piling on debt and cutting social welfare for the poorest Americans. Enter tech billionaire Musk, who dropped a nuclear bomb on the 1,100-page blueprint at a crucial stage in negotiations Tuesday, calling it a "disgusting abomination." And on Wednesday he called for Republicans to "kill the bill," and for an alternative plan that "doesn't massively grow the deficit." In its latest estimate released Wednesday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office said the bill would add $2.4 trillion to US debt by 2034. Musk, who last week ended his brief advisory tenure as Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief, tore into the bill in a prolonged denouncement. The South African-born tycoon has voiced concerns before, but his language was much more combative, coming across as a declaration of war on the Republican Party, if not Trump himself. The White House brushed off the criticism, saying Trump "already knows where Elon Musk stood," but the remarks will likely have gotten under the president's skin. - 'Lennon and McCartney' - The stakes could hardly be higher for Trump, who has made clear, with signature hyperbole, that he sees his bill as "arguably the most significant piece of legislation that will ever be signed." He has yet to respond personally to Musk's social media rant -- sustained over six hours and 13 posts on Tuesday and still going well into Wednesday. But Washington watchers aren't necessarily expecting a public falling-out. Behind the scenes, a careful circling of the wagons is underway, with pro-Trump pundits under orders to refrain from trashing Musk and to instead frame his broadside as what Politico called "principled self-interest." Still, for analysts contacted by AFP, there may be choppier waters ahead. "It's the Lennon and McCartney of modern politics. Two egos, one spotlight, and a fragile alliance built on mutual benefits," said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR firm Red Banyan. "The moment either one sees more upside in conflict than cooperation, the breakup goes public." But political consultant and former Senate aide Andrew Koneschusky, a key player in negotiations over Trump's 2017 tax cuts, believes the Republican leader has nothing to gain by biting back. "Musk has more money. Musk's megaphone, X, is bigger than Trump's. And Musk was deeply embedded in the administration for months," he told AFP. "There's no telling what Musk heard or saw that could be embarrassing or problematic for the administration if the two were to go to war." - 'Bromance' - Musk —- who has cash to spare for his political adventures, including $280 million lavished on Trump's election campaign -- slammed the Republicans who cleared the bill for Senate consideration and threatened to have their jobs in the midterms. And the de facto leader of America's "tech bro" community demonstrated his political firepower with a single tweet in December that blew up a government funding bill that had enjoyed bipartisan support. His take on the deficit implications of Trump's proposals is evidenced by copious independent research and he was immediately backed by some fiscal hawks in the Senate. Continued interventions by Musk could be an ongoing headache for Trump, as he bids to shepherd his policy priorities through razor-thin Republican majorities in Congress. But cheerleaders of the package -- and independent analysts contacted by AFP -- believe the Tesla magnate may discover that his celebrity in Trumpworld relies on the say-so of its mercurial chieftain. "Musk may have had influence in December when his bromance with Trump was in full bloom," said Donald Nieman, a political analyst and professor at Binghamton University in New York state. "But his break with Trump and his massive unpopularity with voters makes it easy for lawmakers to ignore him. If anything, it helps Trump by distancing him from a man who has become a pariah."
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Trump Administration Live Updates: Trump Relays Putin's Plans to Retaliate Against Ukraine
President Trump and Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday after Mr. Musk announced his departure from his role as a special government employee. Elon Musk lashed out on Tuesday against the far-reaching Republican bill intended to enact President Trump's domestic policy agenda, posting on X that it was a 'disgusting abomination' and telling House members who voted for it: 'You know you did wrong.' The tech billionaire criticized the bill, one of Mr. Trump's top priorities, in a series of about 10 posts. In them, Mr. Musk reshared commentary from lawmakers like Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, two Republicans who had sided with him in opposing the rising U.S. deficit. 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore,' Mr. Musk wrote on X. He called the domestic policy bill 'massive, outrageous, pork-filled,' adding that it would 'massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit' and that 'Congress is making America bankrupt.' He did not target any specific members of Congress, but hinted that he might support efforts to unseat those who backed the bill in the 2026 midterm elections. 'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,' he wrote. The blitz of messages signaled a widening rift between Mr. Musk and Mr. Trump as the tech mogul winds down his governmental role leading the Department of Government Efficiency. While the men have publicly professed continued admiration for each other, Mr. Musk's departure from Washington has appeared to liberate him from presenting a united front with the White House. Instead, he has returned to wielding his brand of unpredictable political influence through X, the social media platform he owns. In December, before Mr. Trump's inauguration, Mr. Musk torpedoed a bipartisan spending bill with an onslaught of posts on X, including a threat to find primary challengers for Republicans who supported it. In March, he tried unsuccessfully to sway the outcome of a Wisconsin judicial race with myriad posts in favor of the conservative candidate. Now unshackled from loyalty to the Trump party line, Mr. Musk can again foment chaos with his X feed. Mr. Musk, 53, has often criticized legislation, agencies and others that are against the interests of himself and his companies, which include the electric carmaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX. In its current form, Mr. Trump's domestic policy bill would end subsidies and tax credits meant to spur consumers to buy electric vehicles, which would have ramifications for Tesla. The House speaker, Mike Johnson, called Mr. Musk's criticism of the domestic policy bill 'very disappointing.' He told reporters at the Capitol that the two spoke on Monday and that Mr. Musk 'seemed to understand' the virtues of the legislation. The White House and the president were caught off guard by Mr. Musk's posts, a person with knowledge of the situation said, but it's not yet clear whether Mr. Trump will return fire. 'The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,' said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. 'It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it.' A representative for Mr. Musk did not respond to requests for comment. Mr. Trump has urged swift passage of the legislation — officially called the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act — which would slash taxes, providing the biggest savings to the wealthy, and steer more money to the military and immigration enforcement. As written, the legislation would cut health, nutrition, education and clean energy programs to cover part of the cost. White House officials and Mr. Johnson have claimed that the bill would shrink the national debt, although the Congressional Budget Office and a number of independent analysts have estimated that the bill would increase federal deficits by well over $1 trillion, even when economic growth is factored in. Mr. Musk posted his criticism at a critical moment for the bill, which passed the House on May 22 in the face of a strong pressure campaign by Mr. Trump. As Mr. Johnson corralled several competing Republican factions, the president summoned recalcitrant holdouts to the White House, and his staff likened Republican opposition to the bill to 'the ultimate betrayal.' But Republican senators have already made clear that they plan to make changes to the bill. Fiscal conservatives, alarmed at the estimates that it would swell the national debt, have demanded further changes and cuts to Medicaid and other programs that could help rein in deficits. Mr. Trump has warned Republicans not to mess with Medicaid, a program that many of his supporters rely on. Mr. Musk started publicly criticizing Mr. Trump's bill last week, saying on CBS News's 'Sunday Morning' that he was disappointed in the legislation's size and impact on the deficit. People close to the congressional negotiations said Mr. Musk was disappointed that Republicans were removing electric vehicle subsidies, according to two people familiar with the negotiations. 'I know that has an effect on his business, and I lament that,' Mr. Johnson said. But he added that he did not believe the government should be subsidizing a transition to electric cars. In an earlier public break with the administration, Mr. Musk slammed the president's top trade adviser, Peter Navarro, as a 'moron' and 'dumber than a sack of bricks' in a series of X posts in April. Tesla executives said Mr. Musk, who abstained from criticizing Mr. Trump directly, seemed not to immediately realize the impact that the administration's tariffs could have on the automaker. The White House downplayed the conflict at the time. Asked about it then, Ms. Leavitt said, 'Boys will be boys.' Late that month, Mr. Musk was briefed on the tariffs' effects and the company's supply chain vulnerabilities. Mr. Musk's threats about unseating Republicans contrast with his political spending last year. His super PAC, America PAC, spent about $20 million in the last election cycle to boost Republicans running for the House. And a different PAC he backed spent $10 million to help Republicans in the Senate. Some Democrats celebrated Mr. Musk's criticism. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, brought a printed-out copy of Mr. Musk's X posts to the party's weekly news conference on Tuesday. 'He's right,' Mr. Schumer said. 'Republicans should listen to him.' Earlier on Tuesday, Mr. Musk — who appeared onstage at the Conservative Political Action Conference in February with a chain saw and said it would be 'easy' to save the government billions of dollars — shared a meme on X that included a photo of fingertips pinching a minuscule pair of scissors. 'Republicans getting ready to reduce the size of government,' the caption read. Shawn McCreesh , Theodore Schleifer and Catie Edmondson contributed reporting.
