Cliff Notes
- Elon Musk condemned Donald Trump‘s tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination,” criticising its multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks.
- Musk, who recently left the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), expressed discontent over the bill, claiming it was filled with “pork.”
- The White House dismissed Musk’s criticism, asserting the president remains proud of the bill, which he labels as “big and beautiful.”
Elon Musk calls Donald Trump-backed tax bill a ‘disgusting abomination’ | World News
Elon Musk has criticised US President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill, calling it “outrageous” and a “disgusting abomination”.
The bill, which includes multi-trillion-dollar tax breaks, was passed by the House Republicans in May, and has been described by the president as a “big, beautiful bill”.
The tech billionaire hit out at the tax cuts on his platform X, writing: “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.”
In American politics, “pork” is a political metaphor used when government spending is allocated to local projects, usually to benefit politicians’ constituencies.
Musk left the administration abruptly last week after working to cut costs with his team, the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency – known as DOGE – with the ambition of sacking federal workers and cutting red tape.
Why is Musk lashing out against Trump?
Musk has been an outsider in the Trump administration and he was only there on because of the financial and social media support he offered Republicans and specifically, Trump during the election campaigns.
It is understood he wasn’t happy with the way he was treated, as Trump’s team felt he was trying to make stories about him and stealing Trump’s limelight.
However, displeased he is, it is unlikely he will turn on Trump, but this statement serves two purposes for Musk, first, to keep him relevant in US politics, and second, to attack the republicans, publicly, whilst ensuring he is ‘at the table’ at the next election.
Elon Musk has always been insecure, and during his early days, was never treated as an equal by the like of Bill Gates and the late Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. His financial success, which is leveraged is what bought him a seat at the table and now he wants to make sure he keeps it, especially, because his businesses are suffering.