“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” the tech billionaire posted on X.
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
He added in a subsequent post: “Congress is making America bankrupt.”
In another, he said: “In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.”
Several White House officials said they were caught off guard by the harsh remarks. While Musk’s sentiments on the bill were no secret to senior staff in the West Wing, they weren’t expecting him to take such a strong public stance, according to those officials, especially given conversations Musk has had with White House staff and GOP lawmakers.
Musk, who was granted special government employee status to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, officially left the administration Friday.
Minutes after Musk posted on X, Republican Senator Rand Paul said he agrees with the billionaire, adding: “We can and must do better.”
“We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another US$5 trillion ($7.73 trillion) in debt is a huge mistake,” the Kentucky Republican wrote on X.
Celebrity Trump supporters now turning on the US president
The president spent Monday speaking with several GOP senators, including Paul, who has raised concerns about the cost of Trump’s domestic policy bill. The chamber is considering several changes to the legislation as congressional leaders aim to put the package on Trump’s desk by July 4 – an ambitious timeline.
Paul told CNN on Monday that he “had a lengthy discussion” with Trump this week and told the president that he can’t back the bill if an increase to the debt ceiling remains in the package. Thune has said he will not drop language in the legislation addressing the debt limit hike.
“It’s just not a conservative thing to do, and I’ve told him I can’t support the bill if they are together. If they were to separate out and take the debt ceiling off that, I very much could consider the rest of the bill,” said Paul, who noted that Trump “did most of the talking” on their call.
