Elon Musk, one of the most influential figures in the tech world, has openly criticized former ally Donald Trump’s new economic bill. The legislation recently passed through the U.S. House of Representatives and is now heading to the Senate for review. It includes massive tax breaks and major increases in defense spending. Musk, who once supported Trump’s re-election campaign in 2024, now says he feels disappointed by the direction the bill takes.
In a recent interview with a U.S. news channel, Musk said the bill goes against everything he worked on during his time as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or “Doge.” This department aimed to cut federal costs and reduce waste in government. “I felt let down when I saw the enormous spending proposal,” Musk said. He added that instead of shrinking the budget, the bill would add an estimated $600 billion to the federal deficit in the coming year.
The proposed legislation extends tax cuts introduced in 2017 and calls for higher spending on defense and national security. It also includes funding for large deportation operations and lifts the borrowing limit to $4 trillion. Musk said these moves go against efforts to manage the country’s finances responsibly. “This doesn’t cut waste—it adds more,” he said. He also criticized Trump’s branding of the bill as “big and beautiful,” stating, “A bill can be large or appealing. I’m not sure it can be both.”
Tensions within the Republican Party are growing as lawmakers remain split over the bill. Some conservatives believe it goes too far in spending, while others support the tax relief measures. Despite the friction, the bill barely passed in the House and now awaits Senate discussion.
President Trump acknowledged during a recent press event that the bill isn’t perfect but insisted it includes critical tax benefits. “It’s the big, beautiful bill,” he told reporters. When asked about Musk’s comments, Trump chose not to respond.
Musk’s break from Trump marks a major shift. The billionaire donated more than $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and once led Doge with the goal of saving $1 trillion in federal spending. Doge claims to have saved $175 billion so far, though independent experts question the accuracy of that number.
Last week, Musk announced he would stop making large political donations and would instead focus on Tesla. The electric car company is dealing with pressure from investors and customers following several controversial decisions. These include federal job cuts and reductions in foreign aid, both of which Musk supported as part of his past efforts to reduce government costs.
Musk stood by his record at Doge, saying, “I made the hard calls because they were necessary.” Both he and Trump had once claimed that cutting spending was key to improving the country’s long-term financial health.
Now, with this new bill, Musk says the current administration is abandoning that mission. He warned that unchecked spending could lead to larger problems down the line. As debate continues in the Senate, it remains unclear whether the bill will pass in its current form or face major revisions.