Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation, the “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it “utterly insane and destructive” in posts on his social media platform X on June 28. The remarks come as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on the 940-page bill, formally titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a cornerstone of Trump’s second-term domestic policy.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, warned the legislation would “destroy millions of jobs” and “cause immense strategic harm” to the U.S. economy, according to his X post at 3:47 p.m. EDT. He specifically denounced provisions raising taxes on renewable energy—including solar, battery, geothermal, wind, and nuclear—while subsidizing traditional sectors like coal-based steel production. As reported by Reuters, Musk wrote, “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
The bill, which narrowly passed the House on May 15, includes sweeping tax cuts, increased defense and immigration spending, and cuts to Medicaid and food stamps. It also proposes raising the federal debt ceiling by up to $4 trillion. According to a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report released June 20, the bill could add $2.3 trillion to the deficit over ten years. Still, White House economic adviser Jared Isaacman argued in a June 27 briefing that growth from tax cuts could balance long-term costs.
Musk’s criticism rekindles tensions with Trump, after a public clash earlier this month. As former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk had called the bill a “disgusting abomination” on June 3, citing its deficit risks, per a TIME report. Trump responded at a June 5 Mar-a-Lago event by suggesting Musk’s outrage was rooted in Tesla losing EV tax breaks. “Elon is upset because we took the EV mandate,” Trump said, according to The New York Times. Musk later apologized on June 11—but has since renewed his public objections.
The Senate, where Republicans hold a 53–47 majority, cleared a procedural hurdle on June 28 with a 51–49 vote, moving the bill into full debate. Vice President J.D. Vance attended to break a possible tie. Senate Majority Leader John Thune voiced confidence in passing the bill by Trump’s July 4 deadline, as reported by CNBC. Yet GOP Senators like Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Rand Paul (Ky.) remain wary, citing deficit and Medicaid cut concerns. Johnson switched to “yes” after Trump’s team framed the bill as a “first step” toward fiscal reform, per Axios.
Democrats have seized on Musk’s opposition. In a June 28 press event, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared, “Even Elon Musk, a close Trump ally, called this bill bad for America.” (NBC News). Democrats emphasize the bill’s potential to defund rural hospitals and eliminate clean energy tax incentives. On June 25, the Sierra Club estimated this could cost 500,000 renewable sector jobs.
House Speaker Mike Johnson countered in a USA Today interview: “This is jet fuel for the economy.” He dismissed Musk’s remarks as “terribly wrong.” Conservative economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin echoed that sentiment, claiming the reforms could raise GDP by 1.2% in five years.
Despite this, Musk’s stance has rallied libertarian Republicans such as Paul, Sen. Mike Lee (Utah), and Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), who wrote on X: “He’s right.” But others like Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) downplayed Musk’s influence: “He doesn’t get to vote,” he told Business Insider.
A June 26 NBC News poll revealed 40% of Republican voters prioritized deficit reduction—a sign of risk for GOP lawmakers. Musk amplified this concern on X, warning the bill was “political suicide” and hinting at backing 2026 primary challengers, including against Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), who voted against advancing the bill due to state-specific issues, per a Hindustan Times report.
As amendment debates begin, a final vote could come by June 30. Trump has pressed for urgent passage, hosting a “One Big, Beautiful” event on June 27 to rally senators (Axios). The result could reshape both the national economy—and the evolving Trump–Musk dynamic.
This piece represents the opinion and analysis of Virginia Times editors and does not necessarily reflect the views of our publication. For corrections or feedback, please contact editor.gnbnow@gmail.com.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
