House Speaker Mike Johnson is setting the record straight after Elon Musk claimed he was the key reason Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. In a firm yet diplomatic response, Johnson dismissed the notion that any single person was responsible for the victory, reaffirming that it was Trump’s leadership—and the hard work of the entire Republican team—that made it happen.
“Elon contributed, sure,” Johnson said, “but this was a team effort. President Trump is the most consequential political figure of our time, and it was his message, his movement, and his momentum that brought us across the finish line.”
Johnson also reminded the public of his own role in the campaign, highlighting his extensive travel to support Republican candidates nationwide and his leadership in delivering a strong GOP majority in the House. “Every member of our conference played a part,” he added.
The comments come in the wake of growing friction between Musk and GOP leadership over Trump’s landmark “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Musk has publicly criticized the bill as bloated and fiscally reckless, even calling it a “disgusting abomination.” His remarks have drawn sharp rebukes from both Trump and Republican lawmakers.
Despite the tensions, Johnson referred to Musk as a “friend” and said he respects his accomplishments in the private sector. But he drew a line on policymaking: “I don’t tell Elon how to build rockets. I’d appreciate it if he didn’t tell us how to pass legislation.”
President Trump has also made clear he’s unimpressed with Musk’s recent behavior, describing the billionaire as having “lost his mind” and showing little interest in reconciling. Meanwhile, a few libertarian-leaning Republicans have echoed Musk’s budget concerns, but the vast majority of the party continues to rally behind Trump’s economic agenda.
At a time when the GOP is pushing forward with sweeping reforms, Speaker Johnson’s message was simple: Trump won in 2024 because he led. The rest was teamwork—not a solo act.