Tech billionaire Elon Musk has unleashed fierce criticism against former President Donald Trump’s latest spending proposal, branding it a “disgusting abomination” and accusing lawmakers of pushing through a pork-filled bill that threatens to further inflate the U.S. national deficit.
The bill in question, dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill” by Trump, recently narrowly passed the House of Representatives and is currently under review in the Senate. It seeks to extend Trump-era tax cuts, add new tax breaks, raise the debt ceiling by $4 trillion, and repeal major climate and clean energy incentives — including electric vehicle tax credits — from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Musk Rips Into Bloated Spending and EV Penalties
Taking to his platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote:
“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
Musk’s outrage is not just ideological. The bill proposes eliminating the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles (EVs), a major incentive that has supported growth for companies like Tesla. It also introduces new registration fees: $250 per year for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrids — a move seen by Musk and environmentalists as a punitive measure against clean energy innovation.
Bill Adds Trillions to U.S. Deficit
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the bill could add more than $2.5 trillion to the already staggering $1.3 trillion national deficit. Fiscal conservatives and libertarian-leaning Republicans, including Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee, have joined Musk in condemning the bill’s scale and lack of oversight.
Critics argue that while the bill is marketed as pro-growth, it is laden with special-interest provisions, subsidies for fossil fuel companies, and deregulation of critical areas such as artificial intelligence, potentially opening the door to misuse and corporate overreach.
Political Fallout and Techlash
Musk’s attack also highlights his increasing rift with Trump, whom he once advised during the early years of the Trump administration. While both men have aligned on free speech and regulatory issues, this economic and environmental divergence could signal deeper political shifts ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
Supporters of the bill argue that it will help stimulate the economy by continuing tax relief for middle-class families and small businesses. However, analysts warn that without spending cuts or offsets, the long-term consequences could be economically destabilizing.
Senate Showdown Ahead
As the bill moves to the Senate, the backlash from public figures like Musk is adding pressure on lawmakers to amend or block the proposal. The debate underscores growing tensions between fiscal conservatism, climate policy, and tech industry interests in shaping America’s economic future.
