Betrayal? Musk Blasts Trump Move That ‘Undermines’ DOGE
Betrayal? Elon Musk Explodes on Trump Spending Bill, Claims DOGE Team is Being Treated Like ‘Whipping Boys’
Elon Musk launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump’s administration Tuesday night, blasting the White House for undermining his work and treating his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team like “whipping boys.”
The Tesla CEO spoke to press outlets before launching a SpaceX Starship into the stratosphere, unleashing harsh criticism of Trump’s $3.8 trillion spending bill.
Musk told CBS the legislation “undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
The tech billionaire expressed his disappointment with the massive spending package, stating he was “disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it.”
Musk described the poor treatment he and his DOGE team members had received from the administration.
“DOGE is just becoming the whipping boy for everything,” Musk told the Washington Post.
“Something bad would happen anywhere, and we would get blamed for it even if we had nothing to do with it.”
Multiple outlets have reported that Musk earned the title of “First Buddy” in the White House after helping Trump secure victory in the 2024 election through substantial financial contributions and high-profile endorsements at campaign rallies.
During the initial months of Trump’s second presidency, Musk maintained a prominent presence, briefing Trump personally and working to eliminate federal departments.
He even brought his son, X, to crucial Oval Office meetings.
His influential role created friction within the political establishment and among government employees, particularly as he aggressively pursued job cuts to eliminate wasteful spending.
Musk referenced violent protests targeting his businesses, telling the Post about “people burning Teslas” and questioning why such actions would occur.
Tesla showrooms across the nation became focal points for violent demonstrations, causing stock prices to plummet.
Reports emerged that Tesla’s board was seriously considering replacing Musk as CEO.
“I think I probably did spend a bit too much time on politics,” Musk acknowledged in an interview with ARS Technica.
“It’s not like I left the companies. It was just relative time allocation that probably was a little too high on the government side, and I’ve reduced that significantly in recent weeks.”
Musk intensified his criticism of Trump’s legislation, which the president labeled his “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk stated. “My personal opinion.”
The spending bill will add approximately $3.8 trillion to the national debt, which currently stands at $36 trillion.
Musk expressed surprise at the extent of federal bureaucracy problems, saying “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized.”
The bond market, considered a crucial economic health indicator, declined significantly last week following the bill’s passage through the House.
Investors expressed concerns about the government’s ability to service its mounting debts, according to the Daily Mail.
Trump’s comprehensive legislation aims to advance much of his policy agenda, incorporating measures ranging from tax cuts to immigration reforms.
The package includes substantial spending increases that Republicans have historically opposed.
The legislation raises the debt limit by more than $4 trillion over two years and contains approximately $5 trillion in tax cuts.
These cuts will be partially funded by repealing clean energy tax credits from the Biden administration.
Several provisions Trump promoted during his campaign will be temporary, lasting through his second term.
Tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028, along with a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.
The package includes nearly $800 billion in Medicaid spending reductions.
New “community engagement requirements” would mandate at least 80 hours monthly of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents, beginning January 1, 2029.
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