Democrats Warm Up to Elon Musk Amid Trump Feud After Party Labels Him a 'Dictator'

A political realignment is taking shape as prominent Democrats signal a surprising willingness to embrace former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk, amid his high-profile feud with President Donald Trump over the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This shift comes after months in which influential Democrats and progressive activists repeatedly denounced Musk as a “fascist” or “dictator” for his aggressive efforts to slash federal spending and overhaul government programs under the Trump administration.

California Representative Ro Khanna called for the party to follow a more pragmatic approach. In a message posted Thursday, Khanna argued, “We can be the party of sanctimonious lectures, or the party of FDR that knows how to win and build a progressive majority.” Khanna further stated that Democrats should ultimately try to convince Musk that the Democratic Party aligns best with his values—citing commitments to science, clean technology, and policies supporting international students.

New York Democrat Ritchie Torres echoed the notion of political redemption, noting, “He is telling the truth about the legislation.” Nonetheless, Torres acknowledged the fierce resistance among lawmakers still reeling from what they described as Musk’s “enormous damage” to the federal workforce and government capacity.

Tensions have reached a boiling point as Musk publicly lambasts the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—a key pillar of Trump’s legislative agenda—and encourages lawmakers to “kill the bill.” Musk’s criticisms have reverberated in Washington, finding unexpected support among House Freedom Caucus members and Republican fiscal hawks like Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson, who argue that the bill would balloon the federal debt by trillions of dollars. Jon Favreau, former speechwriting director for President Barack Obama, joined the chorus online, posting, “Couldn’t agree with Elon more: kill the bill.”

This dramatic turnaround comes after a torrent of criticism from the left. For much of the past year, Democrats and federal employee unions accused Musk of wielding outsized, unelected influence over White House policy and derided him for controversial moments—most notably an incident during Trump’s inauguration that critics, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jerry Nadler, described as invoking Nazi symbolism. Ocasio-Cortez declared, “I’m not with the Nazis,” while Nadler condemned the gesture as reminiscent of the “darkest chapters of human history.” Other Democrats, such as Ayanna Pressley and Jamaal Bowman, labeled Musk “incompetent,” “a thief,” and a “Nazi nepo baby.”

Despite these longstanding hostilities, some Democrats now argue that Musk’s high-profile opposition to the bill could prove strategically advantageous, especially as Republicans appear divided over fiscal priorities. Senator Ed Markey and others remain wary, fuming over Musk’s tenure at DOGE and his subsequent government downsizing, which they claim gutted critical agencies and programs.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s passage through the House has sharpened divisions on both sides of the aisle. Many Senate Republicans have broken ranks, decrying what they call reckless deficit spending. Senator Rand Paul warned, “The GOP will own the debt once they vote for this,” underscoring conservative anxiety over the legislation’s impact on the national balance sheet.

Trump, meanwhile, has bristled at Musk’s criticisms, suggesting Musk’s objections stem from the bill’s pared-back electric vehicle mandates—a direct threat to Tesla’s bottom line. The president claimed that Musk only raised concerns after learning that the legislation would curb support for EV initiatives. Trump remarked, “Elon and I had a great relationship. I don’t know if we will anymore.”

The spat between Trump and Musk escalated further on social media, with Trump posting, “Elon was wearing thin, I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate… and he just went CRAZY!” Musk promptly fired back, “Such an obvious lie. So sad.”

The clash illustrates not only the volatility of current partisan alliances but also underscores the emerging willingness among some Democrats to set aside past animosities in pursuit of pragmatic political gains. As Congress wrestles with the future of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the evolving relationship between Musk, the Democratic establishment, and the Republican right could reshape the balance of power in Washington for months to come.