In a surprising new vent in the Oval Office, Elon Musk, the multifaceted tech entrepreneur, attracted strong criticism from US President Donald Trump. The unexpected outburst from Trump was in response to a recent commentary Musk had on a governmental tax bill which Trump ardently supports.
For those who might need some context, Musk had earlier expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’. This legislative proposal, pledged to prolong Trump’s tax cuts and enhance border security funding, among various other initiatives, surprisingly did not entice Musk.
He evidently expressed his reservations, saying, ‘I was disappointed to witness the colossal spending bill, frankly, which escalates the budget deficit instead of reducing it, and evidently undermines the work the DOGE team is carrying out.’ He communicated these concerns in an interview with CBS.
Challenging the popular perception, Musk further emphasized, ‘A bill can indeed be substantial, or it can be appealing, but I’m skeptical about its ability to be both. These are basically my personal insights.’ Musk’s stance on the bill was certainly not masked in any form.
A few days following his televised comment, Musk did not hesitate to voice his displeasure with the act publicly. Onto social media he took his discontent, vehemently criticizing the Republican-led initiative which he framed as the ‘big, beautiful bill’.
On this platform (3 June), Musk articulated, ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t withhold my disappointment any longer. This enormous, scandalous, pork-laden Congressional spending bill is indeed an unpalatable abomination. It’s shameful for those who supported it; you are very well aware of the indiscretion you committed. You know it.’
Reacting to Musk’s address, Trump retorted that day, ‘See, I’ve always had an admiration for Elon, and I am rather surprised by the harsh words he chose for me.’ To Trump, this open disdain from Musk was less palatable than directed criticism of him.
Trump then added, ‘That’s unfortunate. I’d prefer him to lambast me rather than the Act, as the legislation holds incredible potential. Elon and I had a fantastic understanding.’ His words seemed to echo a certain disappointment in his relationship with Musk following the ordeal.
Trump further added, ‘But I’m greatly disappointed, particularly because Elon had a deeper understanding of this bill than most people present here.’ It made apparent the disappointment Trump felt given Musk’s expert understanding of the Act.
Following Trump’s comments, Musk did not hesitate to rebut. He addressed Trump’s latest criticism with a carefully worded post that read, ‘Inaccurate, this bill was never presented to me even once and was rushed through in the midnight hour so quickly that barely anyone in Congress had the opportunity to scrutinize it!’
In a swift display of action, Musk made his plans known that he would be leaving the administration on Wednesday (28 May). ‘As my scheduled tenure as a Special Government Employee draws to a close, I would like to extend my gratitude towards the government for the chance to apprehend wasteful expenses,’ he penned in a statement.
He continued, ‘The mission will only proliferate with time as it integrates itself into the operational fabric of the government.’ This statement served as a departing note from Musk, who had been an active voice in governmental matters till then.