WASHINGTON ― Elon Musk escalated his criticism of President Donald Trump’s tax and budget mega-bill as the Senate took up the legislation, warning that he would boost primary challenges to defeat Republican lawmakers who vote for the legislation.
Musk, the richest man in the world and former top White House adviser, unleashed a flurry of posts on June 30 on X attacking the bill, the centerpiece of Trump’s domestic agenda, over the tech entrepreneur’s well-documented concerns the bill will increase the national debt.
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” Musk wrote. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
More: Live: Senate voting on Trump bill of tax and Medicaid cuts
Musk’s new round of criticism, which started over the weekend, came after he had taken steps to repair his strained relationship with the president ‒ including personally apologizing for insults he made during his combative exit from the Trump administration last month. Musk led the government-slashing Department of Government Efficiency for the first four-plus months of Trump’s second term before leaving in late May.
More: Elon Musk called Donald Trump before expressing ‘regret’ for harsh attacks
In another X post, Musk renewed his call for a new political party. “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk said. “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
He also singled out two Republican members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus ‒ Reps. Andy Harris of Maryland and Chip Roy of Texas ‒ whose votes could be needed for House to give final approval of the bill.
“How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history? @RepAndyHarrisMD @chiproytx,” Musk said in another X post.
Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, are set to vote on what Trump has dubbed his “big, beautiful bill,” after finishing a whirlwind of votes nicknamed a “vote-a-rama” on dozens of amendments. The process could take several hours.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects Trump’s reconciliation bill would add $3.3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade by extending the president’s tax cuts that he first implemented in 2017. The bill would also cut 11.8 million people from Medicaid by 2034, according to the CBO, and cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, by nearly $300 billion.
Musk pumped nearly $290 million into the 2024 election to help Trump and other Republican candidates, making him the largest donor, by far, of the election cycle.
However, ahead of his departure from DOGE, Musk suggested he would cease his political spending as he shifts his attention back to his companies, Tesla and SpaceX.
“I think in terms of political spending, I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” Musk said on May 20 at the Bloomberg News at the Qatar Economic Forum. “I think I’ve done enough.”
Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Musk vows to defeat Republicans who vote for Trump mega bill
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