Trump Expresses Disappointment in Elon Musk, Sparks Sharp Response

A high-profile rift has emerged between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, as the former president publicly expressed disappointment in the tech mogul over his fierce opposition to the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” now pending in the Senate. Musk, in return, is firing back calling the bill a “disgusting abomination” and accusing Congress of dooming Americans to what he dubbed “debt slavery.”

Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said Musk only began attacking the bill once he learned that electric vehicle subsidies would be slashed.

“I’m very disappointed because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here,” Trump said. “He had no problem with it. Then, all of a sudden, he had a problem.”

Trump added that Musk hadn’t taken any personal shots at him yet, but quipped, “I’m sure that will be next.”

The president’s comments came days after Musk launched a sustained barrage of criticism at the massive spending package which includes some of Trump’s second-term priorities arguing that it explodes the deficit and undermines the cost-cutting reforms he led under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.

Musk quickly responded online:

“Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill … but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK. In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this!”

He added that Trump’s claim he was shown the bill was “false,” and suggested that Republicans would pay a political price:

“In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”

Behind the scenes, White House insiders confirmed that Trump was caught off guard by Musk’s shift but not entirely shocked. According to NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, senior officials said Trump hoped to “be a nice guy” by sending Musk off on a high note last week after his departure from a formal advisory role.

But the tone has since soured.

Musk slammed the bill again on Wednesday, saying, “It more than defeats all the cost savings achieved by the DOGE team at great personal cost and risk.” He’s now calling the legislation the “Debt Slavery Bill.”

• The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would raise the federal deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next decade.

• Interest on the national debt already consumes 25% of federal revenues and growing.

• U.S. debt-to-GDP is on track to exceed 130% by 2030, according to the IMF.

Musk also resurfaced Trump’s old tweets about tackling the deficit highlighting the apparent contradiction with the current bill’s price tag.

Despite the fallout, some Trump allies are defending the legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson has insisted the bill will result in $1.6 trillion in savings, while protecting key 2017 tax cuts. But fiscal conservatives like Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have joined Musk in labeling the bill as fiscally irresponsible.

Trump has made no secret of his frustration with those opposing the bill, calling out Republican lawmakers by name in recent days. Still, Musk’s criticism hits differently. Until recently, he was perhaps the most visible symbol of the president’s government efficiency project, promising to root out a trillion dollars in waste.

A White House source told NBC that staffers aren’t taking the attacks personally.

“Everyone here in a senior role understands who Elon Musk is… There’s been no surprise,” the official said.

Yet the tone from Musk suggests this battle won’t be over anytime soon especially as he encourages voters to oust the bill’s supporters in November.

As Washington grapples with yet another spending showdown, the split between Trump and Musk underscores a broader rift inside the GOP: between those trying to advance sweeping policy goals through compromise, and those demanding fiscal accountability now.

Stay informed on America’s economic future subscribe to our newsletter now for breaking updates on this and other major issues shaping 2025.