Johnson says helium is "not upset" with Musk
Washington — GOP leaders successful Congress appeared undeterred Wednesday arsenic Elon Musk ramped up his criticism of President Trump's "big, beauteous bill" with a barrage of posts slamming the measure, raising questions astir whether Republicans tin stay agreed astir the centerpiece authorities of Mr. Trump's second-term agenda.
In a station connected X connected Tuesday, Musk called the measure "outrageous" and "pork-filled," arguing that it's a "a disgusting abomination" and lambasting legislature Republicans for supporting it. The station was lone the opening of a slew of comments from Musk, who called for a caller measure to beryllium drafted connected Wednesday arsenic the onslaught continued.
"KILL the BILL," Musk wrote connected X Wednesday afternoon.
House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed backmost connected Musk's disapproval Wednesday morning, telling reporters astatine his play property league that "I deliberation he's level wrong."
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune during a quality league astatine the U.S. Capitol successful Washington, D.C., connected Thursday, April 10, 2025.
Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
"I deliberation he's mode disconnected connected this," Johnson said, noting that helium considers Musk a "friend" and arguing that "policy differences are not personal."
The talker told reporters aboriginal Wednesday that "we don't person clip for a marque caller bill." And helium said helium would proceed to effort to scope Musk aft saying helium didn't reply his telephone Tuesday. Johnson besides noted that helium had spoken with the president astir Musk's absorption to the bill, saying Mr. Trump is "not delighted that Elon did a 180 connected that."
Across the Capitol, the Senate is present forging up connected the legislation, which the House narrowly passed past month. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that Musk has "some influence," citing his societal media following, but helium downplayed the Tesla CEO's clasp implicit Republicans successful the precocious chamber, saying that "at the extremity of the day, this is simply a 51-vote workout present successful the Senate."
"I deliberation we'll get there," Thune said. "There are going to beryllium a batch of radical who stock commentary astir this, and we've conscionable got to marque definite we're doing everything we tin to get our arguments retired there."
Thune told CBS News connected Wednesday greeting that helium hadn't yet spoken to Mr. Trump astir Musk's disapproval of the bill, but that they would person a accidental to sermon "what we're doing to get the measure done" astatine a White House gathering with Finance Committee Republicans aboriginal Wednesday.
The disapproval from Musk comes astir six months aft helium successfully torpedoed a measurement to money the authorities successful December, forcing lawmakers backmost to the drafting board. But this clip around, with Musk having recently departed from his relation arsenic a Special Government Employee, the disapproval has not had the aforesaid effect.
"He surely doesn't person the aforesaid sway," Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, told CBS News of Musk.
GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who antecedently represented Oklahoma successful the House and has served arsenic a messenger betwixt the 2 chambers, told reporters "I don't cognize if it affects a lot."
"I person each the respect successful the satellite for Elon, each the respect successful the satellite for him," Mullin said. "I besides emotion my wife, and each present and past my woman and I disagree. And truthful sometimes radical conscionable person disagreements."
Senate Republicans were gathered for their league luncheon connected Tuesday erstwhile Musk took to X to knock the bill, prompting a fistful of Senate Republicans to rapidly dependable their agreement, including Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who had already expressed superior concerns that spending cuts don't spell acold enough. Other Republicans, similar Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, voiced knowing for Musk's views connected Wednesday. But she formed uncertainty connected whether the disapproval would sway her colleagues.
"I deliberation that those of america who stock concerns that determination are inadequate reductions successful the measure knew that earlier Elon Musk said that," Lummis said. "Those who disagree with him disagreed earlier helium said that. So I don't deliberation it changed immoderate views successful the Republican Party successful the Senate."
Senate GOP enactment has already been contending with absorption from the fiscal hawks, on with a fistful of different senators who reason Medicaid restrictions, among different things. Key GOP senators person been conducting meetings successful caller days to robust retired the disagreement, with absorption from conscionable 4 Senate Republicans capable to vessel the bill.
Cristina Corujo contributed to this report.
Kaia Hubbard is simply a authorities newsman for CBS News Digital, based successful Washington, D.C.
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