Donald Trump on Thursday said he is ‘disappointed’ with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his criticism of the Republican President’s ‘Big beautiful Bill.’
“I’m very disappointed in Elon. I’ve helped Elon a lot,” Trump said in the Oval Office, according to the Associated Press.
Trump’s ‘Big, beautiful bill’ features trillions in tax cuts, increased funding for the US military and border security, and new work requirements for Medicaid — while diverting spending from federal health, nutrition, and energy programmes to bolster national security.
The US President also said the Tesla CEO has ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome’, a phrase Trump has often used against his critics.
Musk, who stepped back from running Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), have been vocal in his criticism of the tax bill.
“Shame on those who voted for it,” Musk said in a post on X about the legislative linchpin of Trump’s second-term agenda. The remark marks Musk’s first public disagreement with Trump since leaving his government, after having previously called the plan “disappointing”.
The Tesla CEO’s term in the Trump administration came to an end on May 31, however, Trump said that he will “always, be with us, helping all the way.”
“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk said in a post on X.
“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added.
Musk was appointed as a “special government employee” in the Trump administration, that came into power in January this year. The Tesla CEO’s position in the White House allowed him up to 130 days of government service per year. With the count beginning on President Trump’s inauguration day—January 20—Musk’s term was set to expire toward the end of May.
