in Economy, Politics, Trump

‘If Elon Sticks To Rockets, I Will Stick To Finance’: Bessent Shrugs Off Musk Debt Drama

Scott Bessent
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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent brushed off Elon Musk’s latest attacks on Tuesday, dismissing the tech billionaire’s outrage over Republican support for President Donald Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” as misplaced and irrelevant.

“If Elon sticks to rockets, I’ll stick to finance,” Bessent told Fox News host Laura Ingraham during a Tuesday night interview. “I’m confident this bill puts us on the path to paying down the debt. And there were 50 senators who weren’t threatened by his words.”

Bessent’s comments came after Musk vowed to target every Republican lawmaker who supports the sweeping legislation, accusing them of betraying their promises to rein in spending. Musk called the bill “the biggest debt increase in history” and threatened primary challenges to GOP incumbents who vote for it.

But the Trump administration sees things differently. Bessent argued that the bill — which passed the Senate Tuesday in a 51-50 vote with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote — will boost economic growth, extend the Trump tax cuts, slash regulations, and supercharge energy and military investments.

“This bill is foundational,” Bessent said. “It’s the beginning of a serious course correction for America’s economy.”

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Three Republicans — Sens. Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), and Thom Tillis (NC) — joined Democrats in opposing the legislation. Tillis, who has voiced concerns over Medicaid provisions, announced he won’t seek re-election. Musk has thrown his support behind Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), another vocal critic of the bill.

Musk, once a key Trump ally who led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency until May, is now threatening to create a new “America Party” in response to the bill’s passage. Trump, for his part, has hit back hard.

“DOGE is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon,” Trump quipped Tuesday outside the White House. He also hinted that Musk’s government subsidies could come under review.

Despite the noise, Trump’s team is confident. The bill now heads back to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has promised a 72-hour review period before a final vote. Bessent believes the GOP will hold the line.

“President Trump, Majority Leader Thune, and Speaker Johnson are in lockstep,” Bessent said. “This bill is going to the president’s desk. Period.”