Elon Musk is criticizing the main part of President Donald Trump’s plan for new laws, which is a big break in their partnership that started during last year’s campaign and was expected to change American politics and the federal government.
The billionaire businessman, who supported Trump’s run for president with at least $250 million and worked as a senior adviser in his administration, said he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his “big beautiful bill.”
The law includes a mix of tax cuts and stronger immigration rules. While talking to CBS, Musk said it was a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
“I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.”
His interview with CBS was released Tuesday night. White House officials did not answer questions right away. Republicans recently passed the law through the House of Representatives and are now discussing it in the Senate.
Musk’s remarks come as he steps back from his government work and focuses again on companies like electric car maker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX. He also said he will spend less money on politics because “I think I’ve done enough.”
Sometimes, he has seemed less confident after working in government. Even though he hoped that DOGE would save $1 trillion in spending cuts, he has not come close to reaching that goal.
“The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized,” he told The Washington Post. “I thought there were problems, but it sure is an uphill battle trying to improve things in D.C., to say the least.”
Before, Musk had been very positive about the chance to change Washington. He wore campaign hats in the White House, held his own campaign events, and talked about too much spending as a serious crisis.
He also praised Trump a lot.
President Donald Trump holds a jersey as he departs after hosting the 2025 NCAA Champion“The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like the guy,” Musk said once. “Frankly, I love him.”
Trump returned the kindness, calling Musk “a truly great American.” When Tesla’s sales went down, Trump turned the White House driveway into a temporary showroom to show his support.
It is not clear what effect Musk’s words about the bill will have on the debate over the law. During the transition period, he helped create opposition to a spending plan as the country was close to a government shutdown.
But Trump is still the most important figure in the Republican Party, and many lawmakers have not wanted to go against him when he pushes for his plans.
The Congressional Budget Office, in an early estimate, said the tax parts would increase federal deficits by $3.8 trillion over ten years, while changes to Medicaid, food stamps, and other programs would lower spending by a little over $1 trillion in the same time.
House Republican leaders say that faster economic growth would make the bill balance out or reduce the deficit, but outside groups doubt this. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates the bill would add $3 trillion to the debt, including interest, over the next ten years.