Elon Musk Claims Donald Trump Would Have Lost 2024 Election Without Him as 'Big Beautiful Bill' Feud Intensifies

The ongoing feud between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump escalated further on Thursday, as the tech billionaire fired back at the president's public criticism regarding the recently passed "Big Beautiful Bill." Musk, responding to Trump's remarks, asserted his pivotal role in recent Republican electoral successes and accused the president of showing "such ingratitude."

During a session with reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump did not mince words regarding Musk’s recent objections to the bill. He expressed feeling "very disappointed" with Musk for his vocal criticisms after weeks of apparent support from the Tesla founder. The president claimed that Musk "knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here" and only began attacking it once the electric vehicle incentives were threatened with cuts. "He had no problem with it," Trump emphasized, "All of a sudden, he had a problem. And he only developed the problem when he found out that we're going to have to cut the EV mandate."

Musk sharply refuted the president's account, writing on X that the bill was never shown to him, “even once,” before its passage in what he described as a rushed and opaque process. He claimed, "The bill was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!" Musk has been one of the most vocal critics of the legislation, repeatedly dubbing it the "Big Ugly Bill" and suggesting lawmakers should aim for a "Slim Beautiful Bill" instead.

The spat comes amid a broader debate within Republican circles about the direction and priorities of the party. Musk has spent recent days highlighting previous statements by Trump that appear to align more closely with Musk’s current criticisms of the bill. Meanwhile, the tech mogul's public stance has drawn both criticism and support from key political figures.

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed disappointment with Musk’s opposition, describing himself as “surprised” and insisting that Musk was “flat wrong” about the bill's contents. Johnson recounted a "great conversation" with Musk earlier in the week, noting their friendship but standing firm on his position regarding the legislation’s merits.

Conversely, several high-profile Republicans have voiced support for Musk’s concerns. Representative Thomas Massie, Senator Rand Paul, and Senator Mike Lee have all indicated solidarity with Musk, while Senator John Kennedy warned that Americans are at risk of "quickly becoming debt slaves" under the current legislative trajectory. These mixed reactions highlight the growing divisions within the party over the bill’s impact and the future of electric vehicle policy in the United States.

With the "Big Beautiful Bill" now passed in the House, all eyes turn to the Senate, where lawmakers face a tight deadline — President Trump’s July 4 target — to approve or amend the controversial legislation. The coming weeks are expected to bring further debate, with Musk promising to continue his vocal campaign against the bill’s current provisions.