Trump and Musk Feud Over Budget Bill, EV Subsidies, and Political Loyalty
- The New York Editorial Desk - Arif
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Right-Leaning
Why: The article highlights Musk’s criticism of federal spending while giving more space to pro-Trump voices defending the bill; it frames the legislation as supporting an "America First agenda".
Trump-Musk Rift Goes Public
President Donald Trump publicly expressed disappointment in Elon Musk on Thursday, following Musk’s recent criticism of Trump’s top legislative proposal: the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Trump claimed Musk had been deeply involved in the legislation while serving as head of the White House’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge). The Tesla CEO, however, denied ever reviewing the bill and accused Trump of being ungrateful for his support during the 2024 election.
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump said.“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk fired back on X.
Background on the Bill
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" includes:
Extended Trump-era tax cuts
Increased immigration enforcement funding
New work requirements for federal aid recipients
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over ten years.
Musk has labeled it the “Debt Slavery Bill,” citing the high cost and accusing it of undermining Doge’s cost-saving efforts.
EV Incentives at the Core
One of Musk’s main concerns is the bill’s revocation of consumer incentives for electric vehicle (EV) purchases. Trump dismissed this as the reason for Musk’s opposition, claiming Musk was aware of the bill’s provisions long before his resignation from Doge. Musk denied that, stating the bill “was never shown to me even once.”
Musk’s Role in the 2024 Election
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO claimed his financial backing was key to Trump’s return to office in 2024.
“Without me, Trump would have lost… Dems would control the House,” Musk posted.
This marks a sharp contrast to Musk’s previous appearance in the Oval Office just days earlier, where he praised Trump upon completing his tenure at Doge.
House Passage and Senate Challenges
The House passed the bill narrowly last month, with Speaker Mike Johnson securing just enough support from Republicans. Johnson defended the bill on Bloomberg TV, calling it a “budget reconciliation bill” aligned with the “America First” agenda.
“This is not a spending bill… we are delivering the America First agenda,” Johnson said.
He also mentioned that he’s been trying to speak directly with Musk about his objections.
Senate Response and Internal GOP Conflict
Senate Republicans have not echoed Musk’s concerns. Instead, they are focused on other contentious parts of the bill, particularly the provision expanding the deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT).
The 2017 Trump tax law capped SALT deductions at $10,000. The new bill raises it to $40,000, benefitting residents of high-tax blue states.
However, Senate Republicans are mostly from red states and see little political incentive to preserve this provision.
“There really isn’t a single Republican senator who cares much about the Salt issue,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
Changes to this section could threaten the bill’s passage in the House, where the GOP has a slim majority and minimal room for defections.
Musk’s Fiscal Concerns
Musk maintains that the bill undermines Doge’s savings mission. He claims the department could cut $1 trillion in federal costs, though Doge’s own tracking dashboard reports under 20% of that goal achieved since Trump’s inauguration. He also accused Trump of inflating government size after campaigning on spending cuts.
Summary
The escalating dispute between Trump and Musk reflects broader GOP tensions over spending, deficit politics, and donor influence. With the Senate now debating the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, both policy details and political relationships will likely shape its fate.
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