In an unexpected turn of events, tech mogul Elon Musk has taken aim at President Donald Trump, after blasting the White House over its handling of both the economy and the cryptocurrency DOGE. In a series of interviews earlier this week, Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed frustration with Trump’s latest $3.8 trillion spending bill, calling it a setback for both fiscal responsibility and the work he has undertaken with his cryptocurrency project, DOGE.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Musk spoke out against Trump’s legislative package, which is estimated to add trillions to the national debt. The billionaire expressed his disappointment, noting that the bill would further increase the U.S. deficit and undermine efforts to cut wasteful government spending.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it,” Musk said, addressing the media before SpaceX’s latest Starship launch. “It undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
Trump vs Musk
The relationship between Musk and Trump has soured in recent weeks, as Musk expressed growing resentment about how he and his cryptocurrency, DOGE, have been treated. He referred to DOGE as “the whipping boy” for broader political and economic issues. “Something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it,” Musk explained in an interview with The Washington Post, where he reflected on the increasing pressure and negative attention facing his venture. Musk’s political influence had soared during Trump’s first term, where he gained prominence as a key advisor and major donor to the Trump campaign. Known as the “First Buddy” of the White House, Musk was heavily involved in policy discussions, even advising the president on slashing federal jobs. However, this close relationship quickly became controversial, especially when Musk’s efforts to reduce government waste led to protests and significant backlash.
Tesla showrooms across the nation became flashpoints for protests, with demonstrators voicing their anger against Musk’s political maneuvers. Reports soon surfaced that Musk’s leadership at Tesla was under scrutiny, with some board members considering replacing him due to the company’s declining stock value. “I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics,” Musk admitted in an interview with ARS Technica. “It was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I’ve reduced that significantly in recent weeks.”
Musk critiques Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’
Musk also took direct aim at Trump’s controversial \$3.8 trillion spending package, known as the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” The bill proposes significant tax cuts, Medicaid changes, and other policy reforms, but it would also raise the national debt by over \$4 trillion over the next two years. “I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk quipped, further distancing himself from Trump’s economic vision.
Musk returns to SpaceX and Mars
Amid growing tension with the White House and the mounting backlash against his political activities, Musk has made it clear that his focus has shifted back to his long-term vision: space exploration and Mars colonization. As SpaceX prepared for the launch of its latest Starship test flight, Musk emphasized that his primary commitment remains to the future of humanity. “There’s a maniacal sense of urgency around what we’re doing here at SpaceX,” Musk remarked, outlining his goal of making humanity a multi-planet species. “Mars is life insurance for life collectively… eventually, all life on Earth will be destroyed by the sun.” Musk’s comments underscore his drive to establish a sustainable human presence on Mars, beyond just landing on the planet. His mission is to ensure the survival of civilization, despite the challenges ahead.
While Musk’s political involvement has brought both praise and criticism, it appears that his role in the Trump administration has become a source of personal and professional strain. His recent retreat from the political spotlight has only fueled speculation that his relationship with Trump and the White House is on the rocks.
Despite this, Trump has publicly acknowledged Musk’s decision to step back, noting that the billionaire is always welcome in his circle. Musk, however, is firm in his stance, his future lies not in Washington, but among the stars. “As much as I’ve been involved in politics,” Musk concluded, “I’m physically here at SpaceX, and this is the focus.”