Over the past several days, the sudden – and surprising – blowback that President Donald Trump has received from tech titan Elon Musk has dominated multiple media stories.
Indeed, Musk startled quite a few people when he publicly broke with the “big, beautiful bill” widely promulgated by Trump.
As sagely noted by Musk, the bill rather obviously “undermines” all the work that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was ostensibly meant to do.
After all, as Musk effectively puts it, what is the point of the government saving several billion … only to end up passing legislation that will increase federal debt by trillions?
House Speaker Mike Johnson is certainly less than thrilled with Musk’s commentary, going as far as to claim that Musk was supposedly “happy” with the bill in a recent texting conversation … before the tech titan’s very public blowback.
As noted by The Hill, Johnson apparently informed Musk that the “big, beautiful bill” is merely “just the beginning of a long process of making government more efficient and effective, of cutting wasteful spending, fraud and abuse.”
According to Johnson, Musk at least feigned receptivity to his remarks.
“Elon was encouraged by that conversation. We left on a great note. We were texting one another, you know, happy texts, you know, Monday,” Johnson continued.
However, Musk was apparently less than convinced by Johnson’s claims … which may well be why he publicized his lack of support the following day.
Much to Johnson’s annoyance.
“He’s not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that,” Johnson huffed.
However, Musk is likely nonplussed by Musk’s remarks.
Especially as Musk has received an avalanche of support from various Republicans, including hardcore MAGA loyalists such as Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Which may well be why Musk has further doubled down on his opposition.
After blasting the bill as a “disgusting abomination,” Musk renewed his efforts on social media, highlighting the very real threats posed by the bill … the types of threats that most Americans voted against by voting for Trump.
“A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn’t massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS,” Musk declared in a post on X.
And, roughly one hour later, Musk urged direct action from American citizens.
“Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,” Musk urged in a separate posting.
On his part, Johnson has scrambled to re-establish contact with Musk … but the House Speaker admitted that the tech titan “didn’t answer” his calls since the tech titan publicly nuclear on the “big, beautiful bill.”
Will American citizens ultimately rally behind Trump or Musk?
Judging from a treasure trove of comments on Fox News, a fairly strong barometer of conservative sentiment, it would appear that public opinion is most definitely in favor of reducing the national debt.
As posted by Stephanie Tyler and re-posted by Musk, “I’m shocked almost every comment [on Fox News] is in agreement with Elon – to see so many vehemently disagreeing with Trump is wild.”
Indeed, that fiscally sound trend in public opinion should be seriously considered by the chief architects of the bill … if they truly wish to make the nation great again, that is.
Author: Ofelia Thornton
