Musk Warns Republicans: Back Trump’s Spending Bill and Lose Your Seat
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has issued a clear threat to Republican lawmakers: if you support President Donald Trump’s massive tax and spending bill, expect to lose your seat in next year’s primaries.
Musk’s warning comes as the Senate debates Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” a proposal that would raise the U.S. debt ceiling by a record $5 trillion and cut programs like Medicaid and electric vehicle tax credits.
Musk, who gave nearly $300 million to Trump and Republican campaigns in 2024, now says the bill is “insane” and a betrayal of voters who wanted less government spending.
He posted on his social platform X, “Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”
Musk’s criticism is not just about the bill’s size. He says the legislation would wipe out savings from earlier government cost-cutting, destroy jobs, and hurt the economy for ordinary Americans.
He also argues the bill shows both parties act as a “one-party country,” calling them the “Porky Pig Party” for their spending habits.
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Musk has even threatened to start a new political group, the “America Party,” if the bill becomes law, saying the country needs an alternative to the current system.
The fight is personal and political. Trump has responded by attacking Musk, suggesting he is only looking out for his own business interests.
The bill could directly hurt Musk’s companies by ending electric vehicle tax credits, which are worth up to $7,500 for new cars and $4,000 for used ones. That would make Tesla vehicles more expensive for buyers and could reduce sales.
Musk has also promised to support lawmakers who resist Trump’s bill, such as Congressman Thomas Massie, whom Trump has targeted for voting against it.
Musk’s public campaign has already affected the markets: Tesla’s stock dropped sharply during the dispute, losing about $150 billion in value before recovering. Musk’s threats are credible. He has the money and public profile to support challengers in Republican primaries.
His criticism has drawn attention to the bill’s impact on the national debt and government spending. He also claims that if the bill passes, he will immediately launch the “America Party” to give voters a new choice.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief