WASHINGTON (BN24) — Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk escalated his opposition to President Donald Trump’s controversial tax-and-spending bill on Monday, vowing to help defeat lawmakers who supported the legislation despite campaigning on promises of fiscal restraint.
After a period of public silence following a high-profile feud with Trump, Musk reignited the debate over the bill as the Senate considered the sweeping package over the weekend. He labeled the legislation “utterly insane and destructive” in a post on X, the platform he owns.
By Monday, Musk’s tone had sharpened further. “Lawmakers who campaigned on cutting spending but voted for this bill should hang their heads in shame!” Musk posted. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also renewed his call for the creation of a third political force, slamming both parties for enabling what he described as out-of-control spending. “We live in a one-party country — the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people,” he wrote.
Musk’s opposition to the bill marks a dramatic fracture in his once-close alliance with Trump. The tech mogul previously donated nearly $300 million to Trump’s re-election campaign and served as the head of the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a contentious federal cost-cutting program Musk claimed saved billions.
Now, Musk argues the new legislation threatens to undo those savings, balloon the national debt, and erode any serious commitment to financial discipline in Washington.
It remains uncertain what direct influence Musk’s campaign threats might have on lawmakers, or on the bill’s final passage. Still, his high-profile criticism is causing discomfort among Republicans concerned about internal divisions ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress hangs in the balance.
Musk’s attacks have already had ripple effects beyond the political sphere. Tesla’s stock, long sensitive to the billionaire’s public remarks, experienced sharp swings following the controversy — wiping out approximately $150 billion in market value before partially recovering.
Despite the tensions, President Trump has not publicly responded to Musk’s latest remarks. However, GOP strategists worry the escalating feud could damage the party’s image with fiscally conservative voters and donors, especially as Musk continues to command a significant platform and loyal following online.
