Speaker Johnson Responds to Elon Musk's Criticism of 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' Calls It 'Flat Wrong'

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his surprise at the sharp criticism directed at the latest spending package by tech billionaire Elon Musk, despite what he described as a “great conversation” between the two shortly before the public disagreement. Addressing reporters, Johnson maintained confidence in what he called the “big, beautiful bill,” emphasizing that reforming decades of fiscal mismanagement would require more than a single legislative effort.

Johnson acknowledged the gravity of the United States’ fiscal situation, noting that the national debt has soared beyond $36.2 trillion. “It took Congress decades to get us here, and it’s going to take more than one bill to fix it all,” Johnson said. He argued that the previous administration would have required a full four-year term to enact meaningful fiscal change, while blaming the current administration for what he described as decline across key policy areas.

Despite their cordial exchanges, the Speaker was caught off guard by Musk’s subsequent public denunciation of the bill. Musk, who left a consulting role with the Trump White House last week, labeled the legislation a “disgusting abomination” and urged lawmakers to reject further increases in government spending. He amplified calls from some GOP senators to revise the bill, warning that unchecked expenditures could drive the nation “into debt slavery.”

In contrast, Johnson defended both the necessity and the scope of the package, pointing to national security concerns and citing recent violence allegedly perpetrated by an undocumented immigrant as justification for robust immigration enforcement funding within the bill. “We need to go find the other Solimans and get them out of America,” Johnson stated, stressing the importance of firm action in response to high-profile cases involving immigrants accused of violent crimes.

House Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, doubled down on the argument that the bill is essential for delivering on the Trump administration’s border security promises. As the legislation moves to the Senate, pressure mounts for lawmakers to meet President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline. Whether the bill will undergo significant revisions or pass as written remains uncertain, particularly amid growing skepticism from some Senate Republicans in light of Musk’s vocal opposition.

The debate underscores growing tensions not only between political leaders and prominent business figures like Musk but also within the GOP itself, as lawmakers grapple with balancing fiscal responsibility, public safety, and the demands of rapidly shifting public opinion. The coming weeks are expected to bring further scrutiny as the Senate takes up the contentious legislation.