Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has intensified his criticism of President Trump’s controversial tax and spending bill. On Saturday, Musk expressed his concerns on social media, stating that the legislation, which Republican senators are eager to pass, would lead to the destruction of millions of jobs in America and cause significant strategic harm to the country.
He characterized the bill as providing handouts to outdated industries while impeding the growth of future sectors. Musk’s comments came as the Senate prepared to vote on the nearly 1,000-page bill.
In his post, he called the legislation a substantial threat to employment and industry innovation. He also suggested that supporting the bill could be “political suicide for the Republican Party.” The billionaire previously voiced his disappointment regarding the bill’s high costs and effectiveness, indicating that a proposal cannot be both substantial and visually appealing, a sentiment he shared during a CBS interview.
This renewed conflict marks a shift in Musk’s relationship with the Trump administration, particularly after a period of commendation for the president. Musk has previously labeled the bill as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination,” urging voters to reconsider their support for it.
Tensions heightened further when Trump publicly expressed disappointment in Musk, leading to exchanges that included Musk’s unverified claims linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the animosity, Musk attempted to mend fences by expressing regret for some of his messages.
Trump acknowledged the tensions, stating he understood such disagreements. The complex relationship was initially reinforced by Musk’s substantial financial contributions to Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates.
As Musk continues to focus on his business endeavors, the impact of his latest criticisms on his political influence and rapport with Trump remains uncertain.