Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and one of the Republican Party’s most influential donors in the 2024 election cycle, has launched a fierce campaign against the GOP’s sweeping tax and spending bill currently moving through the Senate. In a series of high-profile posts on X, the social media platform he owns, Musk condemned the legislation as fiscally irresponsible and promised political retribution for Republican lawmakers who support it.
“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” Musk wrote Monday. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
Musk’s threat signals a major political turn from the billionaire, who only months ago was celebrated within the party for his role in President Trump’s 2024 re-election victory. Now, Musk appears to be preparing for open warfare with the very lawmakers he helped put in power.
From Ally to Adversary
Musk’s opposition centers on the so-called “big, beautiful” budget reconciliation bill — a Trump-endorsed package that would cement key 2017 tax cuts while expanding defense spending, infrastructure projects, and fossil fuel subsidies. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the Senate version would increase the federal deficit by $3.3 trillion over the next decade. Musk has called the figure an underestimate, claiming the real impact could reach $5 trillion.
Over the weekend, Musk reignited criticism of the bill for rolling back green energy tax credits — a move he warned would have catastrophic consequences for emerging industries.
“The latest Senate draft bill will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country! Utterly insane and destructive,” he posted Saturday. “It gives handouts to industries of the past while severely damaging industries of the future.”
Musk also cited recent polling suggesting that the legislation is unpopular among independent voters and young conservatives. “This is political suicide,” he said in another post.
A Fallout With Trump
Musk’s public break with the GOP comes on the heels of a personal and political fallout with President Trump. The rift widened earlier this month after Musk abruptly resigned from the Trump administration, where he had served as head of the short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for 130 days.
During his time in Washington, Musk gained outsized influence, spearheading controversial moves such as the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and targeting perceived waste across federal agencies. But tensions reportedly flared over the budget bill and Trump’s unwavering support for it.
Though Musk later deleted several inflammatory posts attacking Trump, he has not walked back his opposition to the legislation. Instead, he’s now directing his attention to reshaping the GOP’s congressional ranks.
Primaries in Play?
With a net worth of $409.8 billion, Musk has the means to back primary challengers across the country — and he’s now hinting that he’s willing to do so. While he previously said he would reduce political spending following the 2024 cycle, that stance appears to have shifted in response to what he calls “a betrayal of fiscal conservatives.”
“If Republicans aren’t going to stand for limited government, then what’s the point of the party?” he asked in one post.
Several conservative political operatives say Musk’s threat could dramatically reshape the 2026 midterms. “When someone with that much money and visibility starts targeting incumbents, it forces a rethink of the entire primary landscape,” said one GOP strategist who requested anonymity.
Trump Unmoved
Despite Musk’s vocal opposition, Trump remains firmly behind the legislation, urging the Senate to pass it before the July 4 holiday. The bill, if approved this week, would return to the House for final passage and then head to the president’s desk.
So far, congressional Republicans have shown no signs of slowing down, though several lawmakers facing re-election in swing districts have privately expressed concerns about the bill’s size and long-term fiscal impact.
What’s Next
Whether Musk follows through on his primary threats remains to be seen, but his influence is undeniable — both as a megadonor and as the owner of one of the most politically charged platforms in the country.
