'Disgusting abomination': Musk harshly criticized Trump's budget bill

Tesla CEO Ilon Musk, until recently responsible for cutting US government spending, has sharply stepped up his criticism of the sweeping budget bill that President Donald Trump is backing. Musk called it a «disgusting abomination» that would lead to a sharp increase in the federal budget deficit. The latest remarks put the billionaire in opposition to Trump, whose support last year first sparked a rally in shares of Tesla before turning into a sales slump.  

«I'm sorry, but I can't take it anymore. This massive, outrageous, 'piggybacking' Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted yes,» Musk wrote on social media X on June 3. In a subsequent post, he noted that the bill under consideration would «increase the already gigantic budget deficit to $2.5 trillion (!!!) and saddle Americans with an absolutely unsustainable debt.»

The Tesla CEO has already criticized the budget bill. Last week, he stated that the proposed measures negate the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) efforts to cut spending. The day after that, Musk announced that he was stepping down as head of DOGE. His departure was expected - technically, Musk had a «special government employee» position that can be held for no more than 130 days a year. That term expired at the end of May.  

The Tesla CEO's harsh public criticism of the bill puts him in opposition to Trump at a critical moment, with the president personally persuading hesitant congressmen to vote in favor, noted Bloomberg. Musk was a key contributor to Trump's campaign during the election race, and after his election, he has been actively involved in the new administration. Shortly after the election, Tesla shares hit an all-time high as investors expected the company to benefit from lower administrative barriers thanks to Musk's proximity to the new president. In reality, however, Musk's involvement in politics caused a drop in sales of Tesla electric cars in important markets and hurt his business reputation, Bloomberg notes. Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, one of Tesla's biggest fans on Wall Street, wrote in April that Musk's White House tenure had already done «irreparable damage» to the company, but his return to full-time CEO duties would return the brand's «most important asset.»

The bill that Musk is criticizing proposes tax cuts, cuts in government spending, including on health care for the poor, and increased defense spending. According to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office, the bill, if passed, would increase the budget deficit by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years. On May 22, the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, approved the bill by a margin of only one vote. The bill is now being considered in the Senate;

 Trump himself called the bill «big and beautiful». White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt, commenting on Musk's latest posts, stated that Trump is aware of the billionaire's position, but that it «doesn't change the president's mind.» Trump's stance on the bill is «great,» she said;