Elon Musk has been vocal about his criticisms of Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), specifically highlighting several issues that fuel his opposition. Here's a detailed breakdown for Aussie readers of what Musk has said he hates about the bill, based on available information:
Massive Increase in Budget Deficit: Musk has repeatedly emphasised that the bill significantly increases the U.S. federal budget deficit, which he claims will balloon to $2.5 trillion or more. He argues it saddles Americans with "crushingly unsustainable debt" and undermines fiscal responsibility. For example, he posted on X, "The Big Ugly Bill will INCREASE the deficit to $2.5 trillion!" and called it the "Debt Slavery Bill" due to the largest debt ceiling increase in U.S. history, reportedly by $5 trillion.
Pork-Filled Spending: Musk has described the bill as a "massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill" and a "disgusting abomination." He objects to what he perceives as excessive and wasteful spending, claiming it contains a "MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK" that contributes to America's financial strain.
Undermining DOGE Efforts: As the former head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has argued that the bill contradicts his work to reduce federal spending. He told CBS News, "I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing." He believes the bill's spending increases negate the cuts his team proposed.
1.Elimination of Electric Vehicle (EV) and Solar Incentives: Musk has expressed frustration over the bill's proposal to eliminate federal tax credits for electric vehicles (up to $7,500 for new EVs and $4,000 for used ones) and other clean energy incentives, which directly impact his companies, Tesla and SolarCity. While he has acknowledged keeping these cuts in the bill, he finds it unfair that oil and gas subsidies remain untouched, stating on X, "Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!)."
Lack of Transparency and Rushed Passage: Musk has criticised the process behind the bill, claiming it "was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!" He argues this lack of transparency and haste in passing the 1,038-page legislation prevented proper scrutiny, further fuelling his discontent.
Betrayal of Fiscal Responsibility: Musk has called out lawmakers who supported the bill, stating, "Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it." He has threatened political consequences, warning on X, "In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people," indicating his belief that the bill represents a betrayal of fiscal conservatism.
While Musk's rhetoric has been fiery, some sources suggest his criticisms may also stem from personal frustrations, such as failing to secure favourable treatment for his businesses (e.g., Tesla's EV credits or Starlink's integration into FAA systems). However, his public statements focus primarily on the bill's fiscal irresponsibility, wasteful spending, and contradiction with his cost-cutting efforts at DOGE.
These points reflect Musk's stated reasons for hating the bill, drawn from his posts on X and media interviews. His criticisms have resonated with some fiscal conservatives, like Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson, but have also drawn pushback from Trump allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson, who argue the bill aligns with campaign promises despite its costs.