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Agence France-Presse

Tensions between Elon Musk and Donald Trump erupted Tuesday as the world’s richest man derided the US president’s key piece of economic legislation in a startling rupture just days after exiting a controversial job in the White House.
Musk was lauded by the Republican leader as he left his advisory role atop Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency” last week, despite criticism over his failure to deliver on promises of radical spending cuts.
“This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on X as he followed its progress from the sidelines, in by far his most caustic remarks on Trump’s agenda.
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.”

It was not Musk’s first comments on Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful bill” which was set to add US$3 trillion to US deficits over a 10-year horizon, despite deep cuts to health and food aid programmes.
But Musk’s previous criticism was more restrained, with the Tesla and SpaceX magnate offering only that it undermined his cost-cutting efforts.
On Tuesday he said the bill – being considered by Congress – would burden “citizens with crushingly unsustainable debt”.
His post laid bare an increasingly tense relationship between the White House and Musk, who donated almost US$300 million to Trump’s 2024 election campaign.
Musk has become disillusioned, US media reported, as his goals for White House action that would benefit him personally have gone unrealised.
The bill he was criticising cuts the electric vehicle tax credit – bad news for Tesla – while Axios reported that Musk was rebuffed in his efforts to extend his role beyond the statutory 130-day limit.




He also failed to have his Starlink satellite system used for air traffic control, according to Axios, and was angered by Trump withdrawing the nomination of Musk ally Jared Isaacman to be Nasa chief.
The normally pugilistic Trump has pulled his punches, aware of his biggest backer’s enormous influence over young, tech-savvy and historically apathetic voters – a key Trump constituency in 2024.
“The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill, it doesn’t change his opinion,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters in a rapid response to Musk’s tweet.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called Musk’s comments “disappointing”, adding that he had walked the entrepreneur through the bill on Monday, and that he “seemed to understand”.
As the world’s richest person bowed out of his role as Trump’s cost-cutter-in-chief, their relationship appeared on an even keel as the Republican hailed his fellow billionaire’s “incredible service”.
Trump even insisted that Musk was “really not leaving” after a turbulent four months in which the South African born tycoon cut tens of thousands of jobs, shuttered whole agencies and slashed foreign aid.
Doge led an ideologically driven rampage through the federal government, with its young “tech bros” slashing tens of thousands of jobs.
But its achievements fell far short of Musk’s original boast that he could save US$2 trillion – more than the government’s entire discretionary spending budget for 2024.
The Doge website claims to have saved taxpayers less than a tenth of that total – just US$180 billion – and fact checkers even see that claim as dubious, given previous inaccuracies in its accounting.
Senate Democrats released a report Tuesday itemising 130 examples of “unethical or potentially corrupt” administration actions they say have helped Musk dodge regulation and add US$100 billion to his wealth.
The report came as senators began what is expected to be a fraught month of negotiations on Trump’s mammoth policy package, expected to add between US$2.5 trillion and US$3.1 trillion to deficits over a decade.
Trump said on Monday it was “the single biggest Spending Cut in History”, although he added: “The only ‘cutting’ we will do is for Waste, Fraud, and Abuse”.


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Donald Trump

Elon Musk calls Trump mega-bill ‘disgusting abomination’, days after farewell

Elon Musk exited his role as an official US government employee last week, lauded by US President Donald Trump  for spearheading a federal spending cuts programme. Photos: AFP

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, spent at least US$300 million supporting Donald Trump’s campaign last year.  Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump presents a ‘key to the White House’ to Elon Musk on Friday. Photo: TNS

Elon Musk denies taking ketamine and other drugs on Trump’s campaign trail

Elon Musk speaks during a news conference at the White House on May 30. Photo: AP

Elon Musk says Oval Office black eye was because son X, 5, punched him in the face

Elon Musk is seen with a bruise near his right eye during a news conference in the Oval Office on Friday. Photo: AFP

Elon Musk walks with his son X Æ A-Xii after a meeting in Washington in February. Photo: Reuters

Drug claims overshadow Elon Musk’s farewell with Trump in the Oval Office

Elon Musk listens as US President Donald Trump (not pictured) speaks during a news conference in the Oval Office on Friday. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump (right) presents a key to Elon Musk during a news conference in the Oval Office on Friday. Photo: AP

Elon Musk holds up a chainsaw onstage during the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbour, Maryland, in February. Photo: Reuters

Japanese public questions Elon Musk’s parenting after claim he fathered pop star’s child

Elon Musk leaves Tesla’s Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg on March 13, 2024. The billionaire entrepreneur is at the centre of renewed public scrutiny following claims he fathered a child with a Japanese pop star.
Photo: DPA

Elon Musk walks with his son X Æ A-12 after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC on February 13. Photo: Reuters

Elon Musk criticises Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’, says Doge’s work has been undermined

Elon Musk (seen listening as US President Donald Trump talks to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on May 21) is “disappointed” by what the president calls his “big beautiful bill”. Photo: EPA-EFE

US President Donald Trump (right) has called Elon Musk a “truly great American”. Photo: TNS

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wears a cap with the words “Gulf of America” as he attends a cabinet meeting at the White House in April. Photo: Reuters

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White House dismisses Musk’s criticism of the US president’s signature tax-cut and spending bill


White House dismisses Musk’s criticism of the US president’s signature tax-cut and spending bill.


Elon Musk calls Trump mega-bill ‘disgusting abomination’, days after farewell

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}White House dismisses Musk’s criticism of the US president’s signature tax-cut and spending bill

White House dismisses Musk’s criticism of the US president’s signature tax-cut and spending bill