Congressional Cowards is a weekly collection highlighting the worst Donald Trump defenders on Capitol Hill, who refuse to criticize him—regardless of how disgraceful or lawless his actions.
President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are locked in an unsightly breakup—and Republicans are having a tough time selecting sides.
Since leaving the Trump administration in late Could, Musk has gone rogue, overtly attacking the Home GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” for its deficit-busting tax cuts. He referred to as the laws—which cuts Medicaid and meals stamps however nonetheless would add trillions to the deficit because of its tax cuts, which overwhelmingly profit the wealthy—a “disgusting abomination.” Ouch.
That has angered Trump, who instructed reporters on Thursday that his friendship with Musk could also be over, and that Musk is in opposition to the laws solely as a result of it ends electrical automobile subsidies.
Some Republicans, like Home Speaker Mike Johnson, are taking Trump’s facet, saying that Musk is flawed and that Republicans must move the laws.
“I think he’s flat wrong … and I’ve told him as much,” Johnson instructed reporters on Wednesday, insisting that he is not frightened that the laws will negatively impression Republicans within the 2026 midterm elections.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune additionally downplayed Musk’s criticism and its potential impression on how Senate Republicans will deal with the invoice.
“I can’t speak to his reasons other than what he stated, and I think that what he stated was that he thought it was something that would add to the deficit. And we believe the opposite,” Thune mentioned, rejecting the nonpartisan impartial evaluation that exhibits the laws will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the following decade.
Different Republicans say Musk’s considerations about the truth that the invoice lifts the debt ceiling and will increase the nationwide deficit are legitimate.
“He has real-world experience. [JPMorgan Chase CEO] Jamie Dimon has real-world experience. When they throw up red flags about the deficit, we ought to pay attention,” Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland instructed reporters. Harris cowardly voted “present” on the invoice to enable it to move the Home regardless of his reservations with the laws.
“So @elonmusk is right to call out House Leadership. I wish I had a nickel for every time the @freedomcaucus sounded the alarm and nobody listened, only to find out the hard way we were right all along,” Rep. Scott Perry, Republican of Pennsylvania, wrote in a put up on X, although Perry voted for the laws he now says is unhealthy.
“It’s insincere for @SpeakerJohnson to insinuate @elonmusk is against the Big Beautiful Bill because it doesn’t benefit his companies specifically,” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, certainly one of two Home Republicans who voted in opposition to the invoice, wrote on X.
“Musk is a real America First entrepreneur who might have had a way more comfy existence and a better internet value by sitting on the sidelines of politics. However he cares about this nation, so he bought concerned. He is aware of if America collapses financially, we aren’t making it to Mars. He’s proper,” Massie added.
Different Republicans need nothing to do with the preventing in any respect, like little children who stick their fingers of their ears when their dad and mom are arguing.
“I ain’t bought any ideas on that. We bought numerous work to do. He doesn’t get to vote,” mentioned Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama.
It is an unsightly conflict that would finish badly for the GOP regardless of which facet they select.
Republican lawmakers can face Trump’s MAGA mob in the event that they vote in opposition to the laws, or they may go up in opposition to a Musk-funded main opponent in the event that they vote for the invoice.
Republicans made a cope with two devils—Trump and Musk—they usually’re discovering out the exhausting method that their actions have penalties.
