Elon Musk has branded President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” a “trillion-dollar disappointment,” publicly criticizing its projected $2.3 trillion addition to the budget deficit. In an interview with CBS, Musk stated his profound disillusionment, arguing that the “massive spending bill” directly undermines the cost-cutting efforts he spearheaded as head of the “department of government efficiency” (Doge).
Musk’s condemnation is particularly impactful given his prior role within the Trump administration, where he was tasked with identifying ways to reduce government expenditures. His departure from this advisory role in April, coupled with Tesla’s recent financial struggles, suggests a growing divergence between his vision for fiscal responsibility and the administration’s spending priorities. This public criticism marks a significant escalation in their apparent rift.
The bill itself is a wide-ranging piece of legislation that seeks to fulfill several of Trump’s campaign pledges. This includes extending tax cuts for individuals and corporations, ending clean energy incentives from the previous administration, and implementing significant cuts to social welfare programs. However, the substantial increase in the national debt and the controversial nature of some of the cuts have made the bill a contentious issue, drawing fire from both political opponents and former allies like Musk.