Washington, D.C. – Elon Musk declared on Monday that he will financially support primary challengers against any Republican lawmakers who vote for President Donald Trump’s legislative megabill, escalating a recent public feud between the two influential figures. The Tesla CEO made the vow on his social media platform, X, as GOP leadership in Congress rushes to pass the sweeping spending package before a self-imposed July 4 deadline.
In a series of posts, Musk condemned the bill and the legislators backing it. “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 wrote. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” he added, signaling a direct commitment to funding opposition campaigns.
Musk specifically targeted prominent members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, questioning their fiscal principles. “How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?” he posted, directly tagging House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) and fellow member Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas).
The legislation at the center of the controversy is a key priority for President Trump’s administration. The megabill seeks to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent, among other objectives. According to multiple analyses, the bill is projected to add trillions of dollars to the national deficit. Congressional Republicans are currently navigating the bill through a complex legislative process, with the Senate engaged in a marathon series of amendment votes on Monday. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) suggested that the House could vote on the measure as soon as Wednesday morning before it can be sent to President Trump’s desk for his signature.
The threat carries significant weight, as Musk, a former advisor to President Trump, was a major financial backer of President Trump’s 2024 election campaign, reportedly spending tens of millions of dollars. The pledge to primary the President’s allies underscores a significant rift that has recently developed into a bitter public feud between the two men. Ever since his departure from the White House, Musk has become a sharp critic of the administration’s tax and spending proposals. On Saturday, he described the Senate’s version of the bill on X as “utterly insane and destructive,” warning it “will destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!”
While Musk later expressed regret for some of his personal social media posts during his falling out with President Trump, stating “they went too far,” his vow to actively campaign against Republican supporters of the bill marks a serious new phase in their fractured relationship.
