Musk Draws the Line: Says No to Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

Elon Musk’s sharp break with Donald Trump over the president’s latest legislation has sparked confusion and speculation.

While Trump has maintained a measured tone, Musk has taken a far more combative stance—emerging as one of the loudest voices against the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

Framing the legislation as fiscally reckless, Musk argues it would undo hard-won budget cuts and saddle the US with an additional $2.4 trillion in debt over the next decade.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has used his platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), to galvanise public opposition, urging Americans to contact their representatives and demand the bill's defeat.

Musk has gone so far as to brand the proposal a “disgusting abomination,” warning it could worsen the nation’s debt crisis.

His criticisms have found traction among economic conservatives, including Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee, who share concerns about reversing progress on federal spending restraint.

Longtime Trump Backers Voice Opposition to Tax Plan

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is a sweeping piece of legislation that seeks to permanently enshrine the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts, scale back federal spending on social programs, and ramp up investments in defense and border security.

At its core, the bill proposes sustained tax breaks for individuals and corporations—including exemptions on overtime pay, tips, and auto loan interest—as well as enhanced deductions for seniors and small businesses.

Musk’s alarm reflects broader concerns that the bill’s combination of tax cuts and increased spending could add an estimated $3.1 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade.

Despite passing the House by a razor-thin 215–214 margin, the bill faces mounting scrutiny as it heads to the Senate.

Critics argue that it disproportionately favours the wealthy while slashing critical funding for healthcare and social services.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that up to 10.9 million Americans could lose health insurance by 2034 if the bill becomes law.

Adding to the controversy is a little-known provision that would bar states from regulating artificial intelligence for ten years—an issue that has drawn bipartisan concern, including from staunch Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Public reaction has also been fierce, with rare agreement across ideological lines emerging on platforms like Reddit and X.

While Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Musk’s warnings as “terribly wrong,” Trump has largely ignored the criticism, focusing instead on touting the bill’s projected economic upsides.

Still, the tech mogul’s public break from the former president is fuelling debate over the bill’s broader implications—for the economy, for technology, and for the evolving alliances within American politics.