Elon Musk has openly criticized Donald Trump’s new spending bill, expressing disappointment that it would add $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit and undo the progress he made with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government spending. After refocusing on Tesla amid tensions with the administration, Musk lamented that DOGE has become a scapegoat for broader frustrations, even as backlash against his cost-cutting efforts has led to vandalism targeting Tesla properties.
Originally brought in as a special White House adviser, Musk was tasked with slashing $2 trillion from the deficit—a goal since reduced to $150 billion—and streamlining government departments. But now, just four months after Trump’s return to office, Musk fears his work is being reversed by the so-called “largest tax cut in history,” which extends Trump’s 2017 tax breaks and introduces new incentives and benefits.
Though the White House claims the bill will boost GDP and increase median household income, the Congressional Budget Office warns it will add trillions to the national debt, which Musk strongly opposes. He told CBS that the bill “undermines the work the DOGE team is doing,” and warned that if passed, it could erase the cost-saving efforts that have come at a high price for him and Tesla.
Musk described the bill as possibly “big or beautiful” but doubted it could be both, signaling his skepticism about its effectiveness. This critique comes as Musk steps back from political involvement, focusing instead on his core businesses. Despite not opposing Trump outright, Musk has previously clashed with the administration over issues like tariffs.
Musk also expressed frustration that DOGE is being unfairly blamed for various problems within the administration, even those unrelated to the department’s work. Controversies like cuts to USAID funding drew harsh criticism from figures like Bill Gates, which Musk denies but has promised to address if proven true.
These disputes have fueled anger among some voters, resulting in attacks on Tesla assets in the U.S. and Europe, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles, gunfire at showrooms, and arson at charging stations. “People were burning Teslas. Why would you do that? That’s really uncool,” Musk said.
