Elon Musk Criticizes Trump’s Massive Spending Bill Amid Rising National Debt Concerns
Tech billionaire Elon Musk, a once-prominent figure in President Donald Trump’s second-term administration, has voiced his disapproval of the President’s key legislative initiative—an extensive tax and spending package often referred to as the “big, beautiful bill.”
Musk, echoing concerns from several Republican lawmakers, took issue with the bill’s potential to significantly increase the national debt. In a preview clip from an upcoming CBS interview set to air in full on Sunday, Musk expressed his disappointment. “I was really let down by the size of the spending bill,” he stated. “It not only fails to reduce the deficit—it makes it worse.” He went on to say the bill undermines efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative he leads.
DOGE, under Musk’s direction, has executed sweeping reforms across the federal government, including mass layoffs, agency closures, and the cancellation of various contracts—some of which are currently being challenged in court. Musk initially promised that DOGE would save the federal government at least $1 trillion, and its official website claims over $175 billion in savings so far. However, these numbers have been questioned by independent analysts and fact-checkers.
In contrast to DOGE’s goals, Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” proposes increased funding for defense and border security, while also preserving first-term tax cuts. It slashes funds for clean energy initiatives, Medicaid, and other social programs, and includes significant reductions to Medicare. Analysts from nonpartisan groups warn the bill could add several trillion dollars to the national debt. Despite opposition from some fiscal conservatives, the bill passed the House last week and is now under review in the Senate, where Republicans maintain a narrow majority.
Amid growing pressure from investors to refocus on his business ventures—Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and the social platform X—Musk revealed in a Tesla investor call in April that he would begin reducing his involvement with DOGE starting in May. “Most of the foundational work to get the DOGE team operational is complete,” he said.
While Musk plans to retain his role as a senior advisor to the President, he mentioned during a CNBC interview on May 20 that his presence in Washington would become more limited. “I’ll be in the White House a couple of days every few weeks,” he said. “Just enough to help where I can.” His reduced appearances have fueled speculation of a growing rift between him and Trump. A Politico report noted that while Trump used to frequently post about Musk on Truth Social, he hasn’t mentioned him at all in recent weeks.
On the same day as the CNBC interview, Musk also revealed plans to curtail his political contributions after donating more than $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign. “I think I’ve done my part,” he told Bloomberg. “If I see a compelling reason to contribute again, I will—but I don’t see one right now.”
It remains to be seen whether Musk’s criticism will influence the fate of the spending package. Some Republican Senators have echoed his concerns. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told CNN that he believes there are enough votes to block the bill unless Trump prioritizes reducing the deficit. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky added during a Fox News appearance that, although he supports spending cuts, the ones proposed in the current bill are “weak and ineffective.” Still, he said he might support it—if it didn’t drastically inflate the debt. “The math just doesn’t add up,” Paul remarked.
Summing up his thoughts in the CBS interview, Musk commented, “In my opinion, a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful—but I don’t believe it can be both.”