As the Senate prepared for a rare Saturday session to advance President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill,” Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to launch a final barrage of criticism, warning lawmakers that the legislation would plunge the U.S. deeper into debt and imperil the future of American innovation.
Why It Matters
Once a close Trump ally during his tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has become one of the bill’s fiercest critics since returning to the private sector. His falling out with the Trump administration was highly public, with both sides trading barbs over the direction of economic and fiscal policy.
During his time at DOGE, Musk spearheaded a federal spending audit, claiming to have saved $170 billion by targeting “waste, fraud, and abuse.” But he argues that Trump’s flagship bill, with its mix of massive tax cuts, military and border spending, and deep cuts to social programs, undoes much of that work and steers the country toward what he called “debt slavery.”
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the House-passed version of the bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade—a figure Republicans contest. The bill’s scope makes it one of the most consequential pieces of legislation in a generation, reshaping federal tax policy and spending priorities.
Musk’s Warning to Lawmakers
In a rapid-fire thread posted Saturday morning, Musk accused the Senate of recklessness, writing:
“This raises the debt ceiling by $5 TRILLION—the biggest increase in U.S. history—putting America in the fast lane to debt slavery!”
In another post, he added:
“The new Senate version will destroy millions of jobs and do immense long-term harm. It props up dying industries while punishing emerging ones. Utterly insane and destructive.”
Musk cited polling from the conservative Tarrance Group showing a majority of voters—including Republicans—oppose the bill’s key provisions.
“Polls show this bill is political suicide for the GOP,” he wrote.
The Senate Showdown
The Senate convened for an unusual weekend session to begin debating the updated version of Trump’s legislation. A successful vote Saturday would formally open debate and tee up a final vote before sending the amended bill back to the House.
However, Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, promised to stall the process.
“We will be here all night if that’s what it takes to read this monstrosity,” Schumer wrote on X, vowing to object to a vote and demand the full 900-page bill be read aloud—potentially delaying proceedings by 12 hours or more.
What Lawmakers Are Saying
President Trump, on Truth Social, praised Senate Republicans for working through the weekend to deliver what he called “one of the greatest bills ever.”
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cut taxes, boost our military, unleash our economy, and SECURE OUR BORDER. No tax on tips, overtime, or Social Security for seniors. Get it to my desk by July 4th—it’ll be a beautiful celebration for America!”
Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, condemned the bill in stark terms:
“Republicans just made an already bad bill even worse. It guts wind and solar. It punishes working families. We won’t let them sneak this through without a fight.”
Senate GOP Leader John Thune countered with optimism, writing:
“This is the legislation the American people voted for. A safer, stronger, more prosperous America is within reach. Let’s get it done.”
What Comes Next
If the Senate passes the revised bill, it will return to the House for final approval. Trump has made it clear he expects the legislation on his desk no later than July 4—an ambitious deadline for such a contentious and complex measure.
But with Elon Musk sounding the alarm and Democrats threatening procedural delays, the road to Independence Day is anything but smooth.
