White House Defends Tax Bill Amid Elon Musk's 'Disgusting Abomination' Criticism

The White House on Tuesday mounted a strong defense of President Donald Trump’s highly debated “big, beautiful bill,” responding directly to outspoken criticism from outgoing Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief Elon Musk. Musk, who has been consistently vocal regarding fiscal issues during his tenure at DOGE, did not mince words in his latest comments, calling the legislative package a “disgusting abomination” and chastising lawmakers for supporting it.

Musk’s frustration was apparent as he took to the social media platform X, stating, “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.” His remarks immediately reverberated across Capitol Hill, intensifying an already heated debate over the bill’s size and scope, and leaving Republicans divided just days after its passage in the House.

The legislation, which passed ahead of Memorial Day largely along party lines, has drawn opposition from both sides of the aisle. Two Republicans broke ranks to vote against it, citing insufficient spending cuts and concerns about the rising national debt. GOP Kentucky Senator Rand Paul has indicated he too will likely oppose the bill, pledging not to support any measure that includes a debt ceiling increase—a point he considers a hard red line.

While President Trump has criticized party dissenters like Paul, he adopted a measured stance toward Musk’s objections. In Tuesday’s press briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s unwavering commitment to the bill. “It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it,” she said. The administration continues to highlight the importance of the measure, which Trump insists is key to advancing his economic agenda.

Musk, who spearheaded aggressive cost-cutting initiatives within DOGE, has repeatedly said the current proposal threatens to undermine the very reforms he introduced. In recent interviews, he expressed disappointment, arguing the bill’s expansive spending could erase progress made on efficiency and government savings. “It undermines all the work my team has been doing,” Musk lamented in a televised appearance last month.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the friction between Musk and Republican leadership but downplayed the impact of the criticism. “A lot of what Elon was working on was on the discretionary side of the budget, which this bill doesn’t touch. The reconciliation bill just deals with mandatory spending,” Thune explained. He added that lawmakers hope to address Musk’s priorities—particularly discretionary spending control—through supplementary legislation currently under consideration. A proposed “rescissions bill” backed by the White House aims to incorporate many of Musk’s government efficiency recommendations into future congressional action.

As debate continues, the divide within Republican ranks over the bill’s approach to spending and debt management remains a critical challenge. With high-profile figures like Musk refusing to temper their criticism, and the White House steadfast in its defense, the fate of additional budget reforms—and the legacy of Trump’s flagship legislation—hangs in the balance.