Musk publicly criticized Trump administration's signature tax cut bill, this sudden rift not only exposed the increasingly tense relationship between two of America's most powerful figures but could also threaten Trump's legislative agenda.
On Wednesday local time, Musk, who just stepped down as head of the U.S. Government Efficiency Department (DOGE), escalated his attack on Trump's "Big Beautiful Tax Law" to an unprecedented level. The Tesla CEO shared a screenshot from the movie "Kill Bill" on social media, directly calling on people to contact legislators to "veto" the bill and warning that "bankrupting America is wrong".
Even more shocking, Musk issued a clear directive to his over 200 million X platform followers: "Call your senators, call your representatives." He also reshared posts claiming the U.S. is rapidly "descending into debt slavery" and suggested drafting a new spending bill to "avoid significant deficit increases" and "prevent raising the debt ceiling by $5 trillion".
This is Musk's second consecutive day of publicly attacking the bill. On Tuesday, he first characterized the tax cut bill as a "disgusting ugly bill", threatening to "vote out" Republican lawmakers who support it.
Analysts note that as the world's richest person with a net worth of approximately $377 billion and a key Republican donor, Musk's political influence cannot be underestimated. His opposition could strengthen resistance and delay legislation on tax cuts and debt ceiling increases.
Musk's transformation from ally to opponent tests Trump's tolerance - however, facing criticism that would typically provoke a fierce response, Trump unusually maintained restraint.
Republican Internal Division: Hawkish Faction Reignited, Establishment Fights Back
Musk's public opposition reignited the fiscal hawks within the Republican Party. Representative Thomas Massie appreciated Musk's stance: "I knew he would eventually stand up." Representative Andy Ogles also stated he had a "friendly conversation" with Musk and agreed with his perspective.
However, more Republican lawmakers expressed private anger towards Musk. According to media reports, an unnamed House Republican bluntly said: "He's a complete joke. He has no idea what he's doing. No one really wants him here, we can't wait to get rid of him."
Another representative sharply pointed out Musk's potential conflict of interest: "Some of what he's advocating now is for his own purposes. So I guess he's lobbying like everyone else." These lawmakers hint that Musk's opposition partly stems from the bill's reduction of electric vehicle tax credits beneficial to Tesla.
House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly stated that Musk's view is "completely wrong" and revealed he called Musk on Tuesday night hoping to communicate, but Musk did not answer.
Musk's Public Opposition Adds New Complexity to "Big Beautiful Bill"
As the world's richest person with a net worth of approximately $377 billion and a key Republican donor, Musk's political influence is significant. His opposition could strengthen resistance and delay legislation on tax cuts and debt ceiling increases. If he withdraws financial support from the Republican Party, their chances of maintaining a majority in the 2026 midterm elections could be seriously impacted.
However, House Speaker Johnson remains confident that tax legislation can be completed before the July 4th deadline.
The House passed the bill last month and is now expected to have the Senate make modifications. The modified bill will need House approval again before being sent to Trump's desk before the July 4th deadline he set.
Trump "Very Angry" but Chooses Silence
Facing Musk's unprecedented public challenge, Trump, who is usually quick to retaliate, showed surprising restraint. Media sources citing insiders revealed that Trump feels confused and angry about Musk's "180-degree turn".
House Speaker Johnson told House Republicans in a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that Trump himself is "very angry" with Musk. Johnson stated in a subsequent press conference that he speaks with Trump "multiple times daily" and the president is "unhappy with Elon's 180-degree turn".
An anonymous House Republican was even more direct, telling media: "The president can't wait to get rid of him."
However, Trump has not yet publicly responded to Musk's statements. On Wednesday afternoon, he merely reshared a screenshot of a post where Musk thanked Trump for allowing him to lead DOGE, without any additional comment.
Complex Conflicts Behind the Broken Relationship
According to media sources citing insiders, the conflict between Musk and the Trump administration goes far beyond the tax bill. The real trigger was the White House's withdrawal of the nomination of Musk's ally Jared Isaacman as NASA director.
Isaacman is closely connected to Musk's SpaceX and participated in the company's first private orbital flight. Musk strongly supported Isaacman's appointment, but the White House's rejection made him angry. Reports suggest Musk complained to colleagues that he donated hundreds of millions to help Trump get elected, only to see Isaacman's nomination withdrawn.
Additionally, the conflict includes the White House's rejection of Musk's suggestion to have the Federal Aviation Administration rely on his Starlink satellite system, and the rejection of his proposal to continue working for Trump as a "special government employee" for 130 days.
