All gloves off between Elon Musk and Trump? Tesla boss slams Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ spending bill

Days after Elon Musk stepped down from his role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he appears to be taking the gloves off—especially when it comes to criticising one of Trump’s most cherished “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

In a barrage of posts that he put out recently on X, Musk launched a fierce attack on the bill. Expressing his outrage over what he sees as reckless fiscal behaviour, Musk called the bill a bloated, irresponsible spending spree.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. 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 said in his post.

He went on to warn about the growing financial strain this would place on ordinary Americans, claiming the legislation would balloon the budget deficit to $2.5 trillion

“It will massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and burden America citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt,” he added.

Musk also issued a rallying cry ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, targeting lawmakers who backed the bill.

Reinforcing his critique, Musk reposted several posts on X, including one by World of Statistics showing the U.S. budget deficit hitting $1.83 trillion last year. In response, Musk added, “Congress is making America bankrupt.” He also reposted Kentucky Senator Rand Paul’s statement warning about unsustainable borrowing.

“I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake. We can and must do better,” Paul wrote

In another post, Musk highlighted a parody account’s chart showing the historic growth of U.S. national debt, which now totals $36.21 trillion. “Mammoth spending bills are bankrupting America! ENOUGH,” he added.

Though Musk and Trump have publicly denied any falling out, Musk’s exit from DOGE and his escalating attacks on Trump’s budget bill suggest growing friction. His criticism has fuelled speculation that their alliance may be weakening.

Speaking to CBS Sunday Morning shortly after leaving the administration, Musk voiced disappointment with the House-passed legislation: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit…and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”

He said that “a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don't know if it can be both.”

What is the One Big Beautiful Bill and why is everyone worried?

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA), passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in late May, is a massive legislative package central to Donald Trump’s economic agenda. Spanning more than 1,000 pages, the bill aims to lock in the 2017 tax cuts permanently, deliver targeted tax relief for middle-income Americans, and boost spending on border security and the military. It also includes provisions to curb federal waste and fraud, while proposing a significant increase in the U.S. debt ceiling to enable more government borrowing. Now awaiting Senate approval, the bill marks a dramatic reshaping of federal fiscal policy in line with Trump-era priorities.

But as the national debt soars, concerns are mounting across the political and economic spectrum. The Wall Street Journal has warned that interest payments alone are surpassing $1 trillion annually—more than what the U.S. spends on defense or Medicaid. Hedge fund manager Ray Dalio has cautioned that the national debt could hit $50 trillion by 2035, posing risks that credit rating agencies have downplayed. And in a unified rebuke, six Nobel laureate economists urged the Senate to reject the legislation, arguing it not only fails to address America's real economic challenges but worsens them through reckless tax cuts and unchecked spending.