Elon Musk gives Dems new anti-Trump ammo
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries displays an Elon Musk post on X at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on June 3. Photo: Andrew Solender/Axios.
Elon Musk's brutal attacks Tuesday on President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" instantly became a centerpiece of Democratic messaging.
Why it matters: The recently departed Trump lieutenant blasted the bill as a "disgusting abomination" as Trump and GOP leaders are struggling to get it across the finish line in the Senate.
- To House Democrats' glee, Musk's broadside comes after nearly all House Republicans voted for the legislation in its current form.
- "It's very disappointing," House Speaker Mike Johnoson (R-La.) told reporters.
Driving the news: "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore," Musk said in a post on his social media site X.
- "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it."
Democrats quickly pounced on the comments, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) expounding upon them at length at a press conference where he displayed a blown-up graphic of Musk's post.
- "Breaking news. Elon Musk and I agree with each other," Jeffries said. "Every single Republican who voted for the One Big Ugly Bill should be ashamed of themselves."
- "We're happy to see that Elon agrees with us that every Republican who voted for the tax scam should lose their job," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton.
The other side: Johnson told reporters he and Musk had a "long conversation" Tuesday and described the billionaire tech entrepreneur as a "very good friend" but said he is "terribly wrong" about the bill.
- "He and I spoke for, I think, more than 20 minutes on the telephone, and I extolled all the virtues of the bill. And he seemed to understand that," Johnson said, calling Musk's opposition "surprising" in light of that call.
- Johnson speculated that the bill's phase-out of electric vehicle tax credits — which benefit Musk's car company, Tesla — could be a factor.
Yes, but: The handful of hardline fiscal conservatives in Congress who staunchly oppose the Republican bill were quick to endorse Musk's message.
