President Trump Defends Tax Bill Despite Criticism from Elon Musk
The White House was abuzz on Wednesday as President Donald Trump stood firm in his support of the latest tax bill, despite public backlash from his close ally, Elon Musk. During a press briefing, Trump emphasized the need for widespread Republican support in Congress to push the legislation forward. “We can’t be cutting without getting a lot of support,” Trump explained to reporters.
Elon Musk, on the other hand, expressed his disappointment with the bill in an interview with CBS News. He criticized the massive spending included in the bill, which he believes will increase the budget deficit and undermine the efforts of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team.
Elon Musk Challenges the Bill as Wasteful
Elon did not mince words when discussing Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which combines tax cuts with increased funding for the military and border security. He questioned the feasibility of a bill being both big and beautiful, echoing concerns from budget analysts about the potential trillions added to the deficit over the next decade.
Although the bill narrowly passed in the House, significant revisions are expected in the Senate to win over hesitant Republicans. Trump acknowledged his reservations about certain aspects of the bill but praised the tax cuts as the cornerstone of the legislation.
Under Elon’s leadership, DOGE claims to have saved $170 billion in taxpayer money by eliminating redundant departments and reducing staff across various agencies. However, critics question the validity of these savings, citing discrepancies in canceled government contracts and removed savings claims from DOGE’s website.
DOGE’s Future as Elon Musk Shifts Focus
Despite his initial enthusiasm for government reform, Elon Musk has decided to scale back his involvement with DOGE to focus on his other ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X. He plans to maintain a limited presence at the White House and dedicate a few days per week to DOGE duties until the end of Trump’s term.
In a candid interview with The Washington Post, Elon admitted to underestimating the challenges within the federal bureaucracy. He described DOGE as a target for criticism and revealed that his association with Trump has led to backlash against Tesla, with some individuals resorting to burning Tesla vehicles in protest.