GOP rage with Musk spills out privately after break with Trump

• "He's a complete joke. He had no idea what the f*** he was doing, whatsoever," said one House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from the billionaire Tesla owner.
• The lawmaker added: "Nobody really wanted him here. We couldn't wait to get rid of him."
• A second lawmaker pointedly noted electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla benefit from tax credits the bill would eliminate: "Some of the things he's advocating for now serve his own purpose. So I guess he's now lobbying just like everybody else."

State of play: Since Tuesday, Musk has been on a social media rampage against Republicans' marquee tax and spending cuts bill, arguing that it doesn't go nearly far enough in reducing the deficit.

• The recently departed Trump lieutenant wrote on his social media app, X, that the bill is an "disgusting abomination" and called to "fire all politicians who betrayed the American people."
• On Wednesday he took a step further — despite GOP efforts to talk him down — arguing that a "new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit."
• Spokespeople for Musk and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on this story.

Between the lines: Musk has always had an uneasy relationship with Republican lawmakers, many of whom shuddered as he hacked and slashed spending in ways that negatively impacted their districts.

• But for the most part, they stayed mute and conciliatory for fear of antagonizing a man whose $420 billion net worth would be enough to foot the bill for the entire 2024 election more than 40 times over.
• Even now, many House Republicans expressed extreme reluctance to put their names to even mild criticism of the mercurial billionaire.

What we're hearing: "He can say whatever he wants to. I don't care. I don't really pay attention," said the second House Republican. "He's not elected. He served at the pleasure of the president. He no longer does."

• A third called Musk's comments about the bill "ridiculous," venting, "He's never run for office. He's never been in elected office ... He's always been able to be a dictator."
• A fourth told Axios of Musk's call to oust those who supported the bill: "Many GOP members didn't boast Musk's support when he was in favor of the bill."

• "We are not deterred by his opposition now that he is against it," they added.

The intrigue: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told House Republicans in a closed-door conference meeting on Wednesday that Trump himself is "pissed off" at Musk, according to a person familiar with the matter.

• Johnson said at a press conference after the meeting that he talks to Trump "multiple times a day" and that the president is "not delighted that Elon did a 180."
• The first House Republican backed up that assertion, telling Axios: "The president couldn't wait to get rid of him."
• "I knew it was a matter of time before the two alpha males would explode, fight each other," said a fifth House Republican.

The other side: Musk still has a base of support in Congress, with many of House Republicans' more right-leaning fiscal hawks saying they are in accordance with his point of view.

• Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said he spoke with Musk on Tuesday, telling Axios: "Our conversations have been friendly in nature ... I agree with him that we can and should do more in the House."
• Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) argued that if Musk's comments had been "more milquetoast, it wouldn't have gotten the news," adding that he makes a "fair point."