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By Dan Gooding and Hannah Parry
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President Donald Trump responded to Elon Musk's blistering critique of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, saying in the Oval Office on Wednesday that he'd rather Musk "criticize me than criticize the bill."
Musk had called the bill "outrageous" and "pork-filled" and attacked Republicans for supporting it.
Why It Matters
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Musk was tasked with running the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in January, which has sought to reduce federal government spending and staffing. The billionaire warned that the spending bill flies in the face of what the Trump administration sought to achieve through DOGE.
What To Know
During a press briefing alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was asked about Musk's comments that the reconciliation bill could increase U.S. debt to levels that could consume funds for Social Security, health care, and defense.
"The bill is incredible. It's the biggest cut in the history of our country," Trump said. "It's about $1.6 trillion in cuts. People's taxes will go way down. We are doing things in that bill that are unbelievable...
"Elon is upset because we took the EV mandate, which is a lot of money for electric vehicles, and they're having a hard time, the electric vehicles, and they want us to pay billions of dollars in subsidies."
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Musk's Tesla has spent around $240,000 lobbying Washington in favor of electric vehicle tax credits, but the policy will be cut as part of the spending bill.
Speaking on Thursday, Trump said that had been the plan from the beginning of his administration and that "Elon knew this from the beginning," but he understood why Musk was upset.
Since leaving the White House at the end of May, Musk has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of the budget plan, which has passed the House of Representatives and is now on track for a vote in the Senate, where its full support from Republicans remains unclear.
Trump's spending bill includes approximately $4.9 trillion in tax breaks and increases funding for defense and border security, some of which would be offset by Social Security cuts. It would also raise the debt ceiling, the limit on how much the federal government can borrow, to $4 trillion.
The president was asked about this on Thursday. He responded by pointing to high inflation during former President Joe Biden's term and the improvements made since January.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk, in posts responding to President Trump's comments on X (formerly Twitter): "False, this bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!
"Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.
"In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this!
"Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill."
Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, Wednesday on X: "If Musk & his pals are so concerned about increasing the national debt in Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, why don't they cut the $664 billion in tax breaks for the 1%; the $420 billion in tax breaks for large profitable corporations; & the $150 billion in increased military spending?"
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Tuesday: "We obviously respect everything that Elon did with DOGE. On this particular issue, we have a difference of opinion...he's entitled to that opinion. We're going to proceed full speed ahead."
What Happens Next
Trump has given senators a July 4 deadline to pass the bill and send it to his desk.
Update 6/5/25, 1 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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