Silke Mayr Elon Musk has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s new economic bill, marking a public break from the fiscal policies he once supported. The criticism comes just months after Trump returned to office with help from powerful donors like Musk. The billionaire entrepreneur, who previously championed federal budget cuts, now says the new plan goes against everything he worked toward.
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the multi-trillion-dollar proposal last week. Trump called it his “big, beautiful bill,” highlighting its expanded tax cuts, military funding, and financial support for immigration enforcement. The bill is now headed to the Senate for review and debate.
In a televised interview with a major American outlet, Musk voiced disappointment over the package. He argued that it reverses efforts to reduce federal spending and expands the national deficit. “I felt extremely disappointed seeing this enormous spending proposal,” he said. “It’s not what we promised the American people.”
Musk once served as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), a short-lived advisory unit launched to find savings across federal agencies. He claims the new bill threatens the legacy of that program. “The legislation dismantles the progress our Doge team made,” Musk said. “We worked hard to identify waste, and now that work is being undone.”
Independent budget analysts estimate the bill could add $600 billion to the national deficit in the next fiscal year. While the plan cuts taxes for corporations and individuals, it also raises the federal borrowing cap to $4 trillion. Critics say that number is unsustainable in the long term.
Musk was also skeptical of Trump’s framing of the proposal. “A bill can either be large or attractive—I doubt it can be both,” he said, referencing the president’s description of it as “big” and “beautiful.”
The billionaire’s criticism has exposed a growing split within the Republican Party. The bill barely passed in the House due to disagreements among GOP lawmakers. Some supported the tax reductions, while others raised concerns about the rising debt and expanded military spending. Trump acknowledged that the bill has “a few things I don’t love,” but defended its core ideas. “It’s beautiful because of everything it delivers,” he said in a short statement.
Trump did not respond to questions about Musk’s remarks.
The legislation renews many of the tax breaks first introduced during Trump’s initial term in office. It also includes more funding for the military, large-scale deportation programs, and infrastructure projects. Supporters say the bill stimulates economic growth and strengthens national security. Detractors argue that it adds too much financial pressure and lacks cost-control measures.
Musk, who donated over $250 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign, had originally backed plans to trim federal spending by over $1 trillion. The Doge program claimed savings of about $175 billion, though outside auditors say there is little proof to support those figures.
In recent weeks, Musk has said he plans to step back from political involvement. He told reporters that he wants to focus more on Tesla, his electric car company, which is facing slowing sales and rising competition. The firm is also dealing with public protests and consumer boycotts, sparked by Musk’s support for government layoffs and foreign aid cuts.
Despite this backlash, Musk continues to defend his past actions. “I did what was necessary,” he said. “We had to stop the waste.”
He and Trump have both argued that deep cuts were needed to fight fraud and streamline government operations. But their partnership now appears to be weakening as the political and economic landscape changes.
Whether Musk’s criticism will influence the Senate vote remains unclear. But his comments have already sparked wider conversations about spending, accountability, and the direction of U.S. economic policy.