Elon Musk renews his criticism of Trump’s big bill as it faces a key Senate vote

His remarks have reopened a recent public conflict with Trump’s administration, which he left last month after serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency.

Washington: Elon Musk on Saturday renewed his strong criticism of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts bill, warning that the legislation could destroy millions of jobs and damage emerging industries in the US.

“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country,” Musk wrote on X, as the Senate prepared to vote on whether to open debate on the nearly 1,000-page bill. He added, “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.” Musk, who turned a year older on Saturday, later posted that the bill would be “political suicide for the Republican Party.”

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His remarks have reopened a recent public conflict with Trump’s administration, which he left last month after serving as head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The renewed feud adds another layer of trouble for Republican Senate leaders working overtime this weekend to push the legislation through before Trump’s self-imposed July Fourth deadline.

Musk has never held back his opinions about Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.” Soon after leaving his federal post, he described the bill as “pork-filled” and a “disgusting abomination,” shaming lawmakers who supported it. “Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” he wrote on X earlier this month. Musk, a major GOP donor, even threatened to cut off donations and back primary challengers against lawmakers he said “betrayed the American people.”

Their back-and-forth has turned personal at times. After Trump responded with disappointment over Musk’s attacks, the billionaire escalated tensions by suggesting, without evidence, that Trump was linked to files involving sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Musk later admitted some of his posts “went too far” and tried to reconcile. Trump, in an interview with The New York Post, downplayed the feud, saying, “Things like that happen. I don’t blame him for anything.”

It remains unclear how Musk’s latest remarks will affect the fragile truce he and Trump had maintained in recent weeks. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, Trump intensified pressure on Senate Republicans, slamming holdouts during a rare Saturday evening session that saw a prolonged procedural vote. He specifically called out Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina for seeking publicity with his no vote and threatened to campaign against his reelection.

Although Musk’s political influence has faded since leaving the administration, his wealth remains a powerful factor. He poured hundreds of millions into Trump’s 2024 campaign and could still make a major impact if he decides to restart his political spending.