Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, has evolved from being an ally of President Donald Trump to a vocal critic on social media, opposing Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’. This legislation narrowly secured approval in the U.S. Senate on July 1. These differences first came to the foreground on May 27 when Musk aired his dissatisfaction with the bill.
Previously, Musk headed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency designed to reduce government expenditure. He critiqued that the newly passed piece of legislation directly undermined the efforts of DOGE. This bill, in his assessment, conflicted with the drive to enhance governmental efficiency.
Following his initial opposition, Musk voiced his reproach more directly via multiple posts on his platform, designated as ‘X’. The billionaire started by dubbing the bill as a ‘repugnant monstrosity’. This prompted Trump’s retort expressing utmost disappointment at Musk’s comments.
Many speculate that Musk’s dissent extends beyond the organizational implications of the bill. As the CEO of Tesla, he is believed to be opposed to another aspect of the tax bill that eliminates a generous $7,500 tax allowance for new electric vehicles. Trump, in his counter-response on July 1, suggested that Musk’s critique could be rooted in this proposed change.
The relationship between Musk and Trump has seen ebbs and flows since 2016 when Musk first voiced opposition to Trump’s initial crusade for presidency. From that time until now, Trump and Musk have shared a relationship marked by intermittent praises and reproaches.
The alliance between the two felt solidified when Musk invested an upwards of $250 million in Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Besides the financial support, Musk was an esteemed guest both on the election night and the inauguration.
Following his election, Trump demonstrated his trust in Musk’s capability by forming DOGE. He even appointed Musk as a ‘special government employee’, directing him to lead the department along with Vivek Ramaswamy.
However, the cordial relations turned turbulent with Trump even hinting at the possibility of expelling Musk from the country. Musk continues to express disdain for the recently passed bill on his X account.
Musk has been instrumental in using his platform X to rally opposition against the bill and highlight his plans for a novel political entity, ‘The America Party’. He is actively soliciting support from his overwhelming 221.5 million followers to join this cause.