In a sharp critique, Elon Musk has expressed dissatisfaction with Donald Trump’s newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, claiming it increases the national deficit and disrupts efforts to make government spending more efficient. Speaking in a preview of a CBS interview, Musk remarked, “I think a bill can be big, or it can be beautiful—but not both.”
Musk had led the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) until April but distanced himself following a turbulent financial quarter for Tesla and political setbacks. The new bill, despite its promised cost-cutting, is expected to add over $2 trillion to the deficit while removing electric vehicle tax credits—an ironic twist for a Tesla CEO who once opposed them.
Tesla has since reported a massive earnings drop and a steep decline in stock value, raising questions about whether Musk’s policy reversals are driven by economic necessity. Either way, his criticism places him at odds with a president he once publicly and financially supported.