The Week: Trump vs. Musk

• Trump is fighting with another X.

• The widely predicted breakup between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is getting so intensely nasty and personal that even Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are telling them to calm down. Musk’s time at DOGE is wrapping up with about $180 billion in accumulated savings. That’s considerably lower than the goal Musk set last autumn, but it’s not chopped liver. Alas, all those savings will be more than offset by the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed the House and awaits action in the Senate. The Congressional Budget Office examined the bill’s likely effects on the deficit and the debt and concluded that it would increase the federal debt by $2.4 trillion over ten years. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk declared on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.” On Thursday, Trump shot back by contending Musk was primarily concerned with protecting Tesla’s subsidies. Musk accused Trump first of ingratitude and then of being in the Epstein files. Trump is correct that the bill blocks devastating tax increases and makes some modest but much-needed reforms to Medicaid. Musk is correct that deals that keep increasing the deficit by trillions aren’t putting us anywhere near a path to fiscal responsibility. Both should heed any better angels that have not already fled the scene.

About the Author

NR Editors

NR Editors includes members of the editorial staff of our magazine and website.

Featured Tags

Manage following

Donald Trump

Elon Musk

• Trump is fighting with another X.

• The widely predicted breakup between Elon Musk and Donald Trump is getting so intensely nasty and personal that even Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are telling them to calm down. Musk’s time at DOGE is wrapping up with about $180 billion in accumulated savings. That’s considerably lower than the goal Musk set last autumn, but it’s not chopped liver. Alas, all those savings will be more than offset by the effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill that passed the House and awaits action in the Senate. The Congressional Budget Office examined the bill’s likely effects on the deficit and the debt and concluded that it would increase the federal debt by $2.4 trillion over ten years. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore,” Musk declared on X. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong.” On Thursday, Trump shot back by contending Musk was primarily concerned with protecting Tesla’s subsidies. Musk accused Trump first of ingratitude and then of being in the Epstein files. Trump is correct that the bill blocks devastating tax increases and makes some modest but much-needed reforms to Medicaid. Musk is correct that deals that keep increasing the deficit by trillions aren’t putting us anywhere near a path to fiscal responsibility. Both should heed any better angels that have not already fled the scene.