Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, came out swinging on Monday, pledging to support primary challengers against any members of Congress who vote for President Donald Trump’s sweeping “big, beautiful bill.”
Breaking his recent silence on the legislation, Musk blasted the bill over the weekend as “utterly insane” and continued his criticism into Monday, targeting lawmakers who he said had betrayed promises to rein in government spending.
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history — they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk wrote on X.
Musk didn’t spare the conservative House Freedom Caucus, which has signaled support for the bill despite its enormous price tag. “How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?” Musk posted.
Musk: Bill Would Destroy Jobs, Harm National Security
Over the weekend, Musk warned that the legislation would devastate the economy, writing on X: “The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!”
Calling the proposal “utterly insane and destructive,” Musk’s Monday remarks marked his most pointed public criticism of the measure since he first called it a “disgusting abomination” earlier this month — a comment that triggered a brief fallout with Trump after Musk’s departure from the administration.
Rising Tensions Between Musk and Trump
Musk, who once served as a high-profile tech adviser to the Trump administration, has increasingly distanced himself from Trump’s economic agenda in recent weeks. His outspoken opposition to the bill has fueled speculation about a larger political break between the two figures.
In a post on X, Musk included a photo of his Oval Office meeting with Trump in March, captioned only with a shrug emoji — a cryptic gesture that many interpreted as a signal of his disapproval of the president’s direction.
As the Senate moves toward a possible vote on the bill this week, Musk’s remarks are already adding pressure on GOP lawmakers who had hoped to avoid a revolt from fiscal conservatives.
What’s in the “Big, Beautiful Bill”?
The legislation, which has become a central priority for Trump’s second-term agenda, bundles tax cuts, immigration enforcement funding, and a sweeping increase in the national debt ceiling. Critics have slammed it as fiscally reckless and politically explosive — while Trump insists it is essential to “Make America Great Again — again.”
Whether Musk’s threat to fund primary challengers gains traction remains to be seen. But for Republicans walking a tightrope between Trump’s base and fiscal hawks, the billionaire’s warning just raised the stakes.
