Elon Musk Threatens to Back GOP Primary Challengers Over Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill”

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk intensified his opposition Monday to the Trump-backed tax and spending bill moving through the Senate, warning that Republican lawmakers who vote for it could face primary challenges — with his support.

“Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame!” Musk posted on X, the social platform he owns. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk singled out Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) for praise after Massie opposed the bill in the House, despite a public threat from President Donald Trump to support a challenger against him. Musk said he will support Massie’s re-election, calling him “one of the last honest voices in Washington.”


Musk Hints at New Party: “The America Party”

In a separate post, Musk floated the creation of a new political force, saying if the legislation passes, he will move to form the “America Party” the next day — a proposal he first hinted at earlier this month.

“We need a party that actually cares about the people,” Musk said. “Not just enriching donors or pushing gimmicks.”


Why Musk Is Opposed to Trump’s Signature Bill

Musk’s opposition centers on the bill’s enormous $3.8 trillion cost, including a provision to increase the debt ceiling by $5 trillion. He has repeatedly slammed the package as an “abomination” and called its fiscal impact “insane.”

But the Senate bill’s cuts to green energy tax credits are also a flashpoint for the Tesla CEO. Musk blasted those provisions as “utter madness,” saying they could destroy millions of American jobs and inflict “immense strategic harm.”

Tesla stands to lose as much as $1.2 billion from the phaseout of electric vehicle credits alone, according to an estimate from JPMorgan Chase. The bill also rolls back investment tax credits for solar energy and battery storage — sectors that are core to Tesla’s business.

“Taking an ax to renewable energy is like shooting the future in the foot,” Musk wrote.

In its most recent annual report, Tesla warned that reduced federal support could “harm our business by making our products less competitive.”


A Fading Alliance with Trump?

Musk’s escalating criticism underscores the fractured relationship between the billionaire and Trump, who once appointed Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency during his first term.

The two clashed earlier this month after Musk called the bill “a disgusting abomination,” prompting a rare public rebuke from Trump. Though Musk later walked back his criticism, saying he “went too far,” tensions appear to have resurfaced.

Trump downplayed the spat in a Fox News interview Sunday, calling Musk a “wonderful guy” who “got a little bit upset, and that wasn’t appropriate.”


A Bill Under Pressure

As the Senate barrels toward a final vote, Republican leaders are under pressure from both inside and outside Washington. Despite opposition from a handful of GOP senators over Medicaid cuts and the debt impact, most Republicans have supported the bill, eager to meet Trump’s July 4 signature deadline.

The bill includes tax cuts, increased defense spending, a $350 billion immigration enforcement budget, and steep reductions in Medicaid, SNAP, and clean energy programs.

“Failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal,” the White House warned over the weekend.


Will Musk Follow Through?

It’s unclear whether Musk will actively finance primary challengers or launch a third party. Though he spent over $250 million backing Trump and GOP candidates in 2024, he recently said he planned to scale back his political contributions.

Still, with significant influence, tens of millions of followers, and a platform of his own, Musk remains a powerful voice on the right — one that could further destabilize GOP unity as the 2026 elections approach.

About J. Williams

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