Elon Musk Criticizes Trump's Tax Cut Plan on Social Media

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, publicly criticized President Donald Trump's proposed tax cut plan on June 3, marking a significant shift in their relationship. Once considered one of Trump's closest allies, Musk's comments come as Trump has been praising the plan as 'big and beautiful.' The Financial Times noted that Musk's outburst could potentially damage his relationship with Trump. Musk, who served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, has now distanced himself from the president, especially after his resignation.

On June 3, Musk took to social media, posting over ten messages to express his disapproval of the tax cut bill that recently passed the House of Representatives. He stated, 'I'm sorry, but I can no longer hold back. This massive, ridiculous, and bloated spending bill is a disgusting abomination.' He further criticized lawmakers who supported the bill, suggesting they should feel ashamed and are aware of their wrongdoing. In a follow-up post just four minutes later, Musk warned that the bill would significantly increase the national deficit by $2.5 trillion, imposing an unbearable debt burden on American citizens. He declared, 'Congress is driving America into bankruptcy,' and vowed to 'fire all politicians who betray the American people' in the upcoming elections.

The tax cut plan Musk criticized aims to drastically reduce taxes while allocating more funds for illegal immigration enforcement, ultimately increasing government spending. Trump has pressured some Republican senators who oppose the plan, labeling them as 'traitors' and demanding the Senate pass it by July 4. Currently, Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, but if more than four senators defect, the bill could fail. Following Musk's posts, Republican Senators Rand Paul (Kentucky) and Mike Lee (Utah) expressed their agreement.

Economic experts have also warned that the bill could worsen the national debt crisis. According to a report cited by the Wall Street Journal, the legislation could add approximately $3 trillion to federal debt over the next decade. Concerns have been raised about the already excessive interest payments on federal debt, which amounted to $1.133 trillion last year, surpassing this year's defense budget of $850 billion.

Some analysts suggest that the absence of incentives for electric vehicle purchases in the bill may have angered Musk, who reportedly spent at least $240,000 lobbying for the inclusion of electric vehicle tax credits without success. White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt responded to Musk's remarks, stating that the president is aware of Musk's stance but will not change his opinion, reiterating that the bill is 'big and beautiful.' House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican), who led the bill's passage in the House, expressed disappointment, claiming Musk does not understand the bill's content. While Trump has yet to directly respond to Musk, many believe it is only a matter of time before their relationship deteriorates further. Musk had already announced on May 20 that he would significantly reduce political donations and, on May 27, remarked that while the bill may be big or beautiful, it cannot be both.

☞ Abomination: Refers to something that is extremely unpleasant or morally unacceptable, derived from the Latin word 'abominatio,' which means hatred or disgust. It has been used in Middle English since around 1350.