Washington — GOP leaders in Congress appeared undeterred Wednesday as Elon Musk ramped up his criticism of President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” with a barrage of posts slamming the measure, elevating questions on whether or not Republicans can stay united across the centerpiece laws of Mr. Trump’s second-term agenda.
In a put up on X on Tuesday, Musk referred to as the invoice “outrageous” and “pork-filled,” arguing that it’s a “a disgusting abomination” and lambasting congressional Republicans for supporting it. The put up was solely the start of a slew of feedback from Musk, who referred to as for a brand new invoice to be drafted on Wednesday because the onslaught continued.
“KILL the BILL,” Musk wrote on X Wednesday afternoon.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson pushed again on Musk’s criticism Wednesday morning, telling reporters at his weekly press convention that “I think he’s flat wrong.”
Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs
“I think he’s way off on this,” Johnson mentioned, noting that he considers Musk a “friend” and arguing that “policy differences are not personal.”
The speaker advised reporters later Wednesday that “we don’t have time for a brand new bill.” And he mentioned he would proceed to attempt to attain Musk after saying he didn’t reply his name Tuesday. Johnson additionally famous that he had spoken with the president about Musk’s response to the invoice, saying Mr. Trump is “not delighted that Elon did a 180 on that.”
Throughout the Capitol, the Senate is now forging forward on the laws, which the Home narrowly handed final month. Senate Majority Chief John Thune acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that Musk has “some influence,” citing his social media following, however he downplayed the Tesla CEO’s maintain over Republicans within the higher chamber, saying that “at the end of the day, this is a 51-vote exercise here in the Senate.”
“I think we’ll get there,” Thune mentioned. “There are going to be a lot of people who share commentary about this, and we’ve just got to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get our arguments out there.”
Senate Republicans on the Finance Committee met with the president on the White Home on Wednesday night, in what Thune mentioned was a “positive discussion on the path forward” for the invoice.
“I think it was a reminder that we are all in this together, this is a team effort, and everybody is going to be rowing in the same direction to get this across the finish line,” Thune mentioned. “Failure is not an option.”
Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, advised reporters after the assembly that Mr. Trump’s message on the assembly was to “pass the damn bill.”
“Pass the bill with as minimal changes as you can,” Marshall mentioned of the president’s urging to senators. “If there’s an opportunity to, a few tweaks here and a few tweaks there, then great. But let’s get this bill across the finish line.”
The Kansas Republican mentioned Musk got here up on the White Home assembly for a “laughing conversation for 30 seconds” and that Mr. Trump is “absolutely not” involved about his criticism.
The criticism from Musk comes virtually six months after he efficiently torpedoed a measure to fund the federal government in December, forcing lawmakers again to the drafting board. However this time round, with Musk having not too long ago departed from his function as a Particular Authorities Worker, the criticism has not had the identical impact.
“He certainly doesn’t have the same sway,” Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, advised CBS Information of Musk.
GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who beforehand represented Oklahoma within the Home and has served as a messenger between the 2 chambers, advised reporters “I don’t know if it affects a lot.”
“I have all the respect in the world for Elon, all the respect in the world for him,” Mullin mentioned. “I also love my wife, and every now and then my wife and I disagree. And so sometimes people just have disagreements.”
Senate Republicans have been gathered for his or her convention luncheon on Tuesday when Musk took to X to criticize the invoice, prompting a handful of Senate Republicans to shortly voice their settlement, together with Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who had already expressed critical considerations that spending cuts don’t go far sufficient. Different Republicans, like Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, voiced understanding for Musk’s views on Wednesday. However she solid doubt on whether or not the criticism would sway her colleagues.
“I think that those of us who share concerns that there are inadequate reductions in the bill knew that before Elon Musk said that,” Lummis mentioned. “Those who disagree with him disagreed before he said that. So I don’t think it changed any views in the Republican Party in the Senate.”
Senate GOP management has already been contending with opposition from the fiscal hawks, together with a handful of different senators who oppose Medicaid restrictions, amongst different issues. Key GOP senators have been conducting conferences in latest days to iron out the disagreement, with opposition from simply 4 Senate Republicans sufficient to tank the invoice.
contributed to this report.
