The feud between the US President, Donald Trump, and the tech billionaire, Elon Musk, has resurfaced again over Trump’s spending bill, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Musk lashed out against the new bill, threatening to unseat Republican lawmakers who support the tax cuts and spending bill and to form a new political party if the bill passes in the Senate.
Musk’s Warning
In a series of posts on X, Musk on Monday warned lawmakers who support Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” as the Senate was debating the bill before a final vote. He criticized Republican lawmakers who voted for the bill, suggesting that he would support primary challenges against Republicans who backed the bill.
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he said.
Musk has criticized the bill due to its “insane” spending levels, attacking a provision in the Senate version of the bill that would raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. He also slammed the bill’s cuts to green energy subsidies, calling it “utter madness” that could “destroy millions of jobs in America,” according to CBS News.
New Party
Musk ramped up his threats by announcing that he would form a new party if the bill passes – an idea he floated earlier this month. “If this insane spending bill passes, the America Party will be formed the next day. Our country needs an alternative to the Democrat-Republican uniparty so that the people actually have a VOICE,” he wrote.
He doubled down on the idea in a separate post: “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!! Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.”
The tech billionaire backed Trump and other Republicans in their election campaigns last year with an estimated $250 million. However, he suggested last month that he would scale back his political spending, saying “I think I’ve done enough.”
In early June, Musk also lashed out against Trump over the legislation, calling it a “disgusting abomination,” engaging in a feud with the US President for days, before backing down in mid-June and acknowledging that his attacks “went too far.” He once again intensified his criticism in recent days as the bill approaches a final approval.
The Big, Beautiful Bill
The US Senate held a marathon vote session, known as “vote-a-rama,” on amendments to the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” – a sweeping tax cuts and spending package. Senators hope to get approval of the bill and send it to the President’s desk to sign it by the Fourth of July, according to CNN. However, their version of the bill must comply with certain Senate-specific budget reconciliation rules and get enough support before passing back to the House.
According to a congressional budget office estimate, the Senate bill will add around $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. On the other hand, the House-approved bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the same period.
The Senate bill includes further tax cuts, less spending cuts, and provisions that will raise revenue. The House narrowly passed its own version of the bill in May. However, the two chambers have to approve one text before sending it to Trump.
Trump’s Response
The US President accused Tesla and SpaceX CEO of opposing the bill because he would lose electric vehicle (EV) and solar energy subsidies granted under the federal electric vehicle tax credits – a program that the new bill would end.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump defended his position, saying: “Elon Musk knew, long before he so strongly Endorsed me for President, that I was strongly against the EV Mandate. It is ridiculous, and was always a major part of my campaign. Electric cars are fine, but not everyone should be forced to own one.”
Trump also threatened Musk, suggesting that he would order the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk once spearheaded, to look at other subsidies that the billionaire benefits from.
“Elon may get more subsidy than any human being in history, by far, and without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa. No more Rocket launches, Satellites, or Electric Car Production, and our Country would save a FORTUNE. Perhaps we should have DOGE take a good, hard, look at this? BIG MONEY TO BE SAVED!!!” Trump noted.
