Tit for Tatar: Elon Musk jousts with Donnie D in debt debate
Musk invokes Trump's 2013 statement on the debt limit in a pointed rebuttal against him.
Elon Musk's beef with ex-president Donald Trump over the "behemoth of a bill" is heating up, with the tech titan using a decadelong social media dig to show his disdain for the legislative leviathan.
Musk has made it crystal clear that he's dead set against the bill for adding a staggering $2.4 trillion to the already bloated national debt, which currently hovers at $36.2 trillion.
On Thirsty Thursday, Musk re-tweeted a 2013 Trump tweet - just in case the Oval Office's most famous former tenant missed it - with the following words: "I cannot believe the Republicans are extending the debt ceiling-I am a Republican & I am embarrassed!"
There's no love lost here, but musk wasn't merely moping. He made it plain he agrees with his erstwhile fellow Republican, writing, "wise words."
Musk also revived a 2012 Trump tweet declaring, "No member of Congress should be eligible for re-election if our country's budget is not balanced-deficits not allowed!" Musk enthusiastically underscored his agreement, tweeting, "I couldn't agree more."
The war of bickering banter escalated, with Trump confessing he's "extremely disappointed" in Musk.
"Elon knew the ins and outs of this bill better than almost anyone sitting here – better than you people," Trump dished in the White House, sans fog machine, "He knew everything about it. He had no problems with it. All of a sudden he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out that we're going to have to cut the EV mandate – because that's billions and billions of dollars, and it really is unfair."
Musk, not one to back down, responded with a forceful retort on Twitter, "False. This bill was never shown to me once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost nobody in Congress could even read it!"
Musk's frustration isn't just about deficit spending. The technopreneur is also seething about provisions in the bill affecting the automotive industry.
"Keep the EV incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!)" Musk tweeted, before dubbing the bill "a mountain of disgusting pork."
"Ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill," the Tesla tycoon raged, "In the entire history of civilization, there has NEVER been legislation that is both big AND beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big AND ugly bill or a slim AND beautiful bill. Slim AND beautiful is the way."
Trump is sticking to his guns, saying the bill is "an incredible piece of legislation" and that he'd rather Musk criticize him than the bill, "It's the biggest cut in the history of our country."
The former DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) commander-in-chief has been lambasting the bill as a "disgusting abomination" on Twitter, urging fans to contact their Senators and Congressmembers to torpedo the bill.
"Bankrupting America is NOT OK! KILL THE BILL." Musk tweeted, complete with a repurposed Kill Bill movie poster to drive home his point.
The bill has already been given the green light by the House, and Republican leaders are now pressuring its swift passage to prevent the expiration of the 2017 tax cuts and a gargantuan $4 trillion tax hike they claim would cripple the economy.
Musk had been lobbying for deeper spending cuts before his recent call for the bill's outright elimination. Currently, the House GOP's offering seeks to curtail spending by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years, providing a bit of balance against the bill's spike in deficits.
Musk has also backed Sen. Mike Lee's (R-UT) proposed constitutional amendment, which would automatically boot Congress members if inflation tops 3%, a move he believes would help keep the budget in check.
Sources:
- CBS Sunday Morning, "The outrageous elon musk (and the weekend) explained," May 27, 2025.
- The Hill, "GOP senators urge passage of must-pass spending bill," June 3, 2025.
- Politico, "Republican senators face growing pressure to pass GOP spending bill," May 28, 2025.
- Elon Musk's disagreement with former President Donald Trump over the debt bill extends beyond politics, as he has expressed concerns about its potential impact on inflation and the economy.
- In an effort to address rising inflation, Musk has supported Senator Mike Lee's proposed constitutional amendment that would automatically remove Congress members if inflation exceeds 3%.
- Despite pressure from Republican leaders to quickly pass the spending bill in order to preserve the 2017 tax cuts and prevent a $4 trillion tax hike, Musk has publicly opposed the bill and demanded its outright elimination.
- Beyond the debate over the debt bill, Musk has taken issue with provisions affecting the automotive industry, stating his frustration over the bill's continued EV incentive cuts and its overall size, likening it to a "mountain of disgusting pork."
