GOP senators express 'concerns,' 'skepticism' over Trump's spending bill after Musk rant

A cohort of Senate Republicans already troubled by the House GOP’s mentation of President Donald Trump’s "big, beauteous bill" recovered a communal state successful Elon Musk, who again trashed the authorities connected Tuesday.

Musk, who conscionable exited his tenure arsenic Trump’s ratio bloodhound starring the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) past week, doubled down connected his presumption that the House’s reconciliation bundle was an "abomination."

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Elon Musk, left, and President Trump held a associated property league pursuing Musk’s exit from the Department of Government Efficiency and his disapproval of Trump’s latest spending bill. (Getty Images)

"I’m sorry, but I conscionable can’t basal it anymore," Musk said connected X. "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled legislature spending measure is simply a disgusting abomination."

"Shame connected those who voted for it: you cognize you did wrong," helium continued. "You cognize it."

Senate Republicans person already vowed to marque changes to the colossal bill, which includes the president’s desires connected tax, energy, immigration, defence and nationalist indebtedness policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., lauded Musk for his enactment with DOGE, but noted that the Senate GOP and the tech-billionaire had "a quality of opinion."

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks with reporters astir his plans to beforehand President Donald Trump's spending and taxation measure astatine the Capitol successful Washington connected Jun. 2, 2025.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

He didn’t judge that Musk’s comments would derail the measure wholly successful the precocious chamber, either. Thune has pledged to get the measure to the president's table by Independence Day. 

"The legislation, arsenic passed by the House, tin beryllium approved present successful the Senate, tin beryllium strengthened successful the Senate, successful a fig of ways," Thune said. "We mean to bash that, but erstwhile it's each said and done, we'll nonstop it backmost to the House and anticipation that they tin walk it and enactment it connected the president's desk."

Still, fractures person emerged among lawmakers, with immoderate viewing the measure done the aforesaid lens arsenic Musk.

"Well, helium has immoderate of the aforesaid skepticism I have, you know, towards the big, beauteous bill," said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

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As Senate Republicans enactment to beforehand President Donald Trump's spending and taxation bill, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is opposed to the reconciliation bundle due to the fact that of the debt-limit increase, does a TV quality interrogation astatine the Capitol successful Washington connected Jun. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Paul has vowed not to enactment the measure arsenic is without a superior overhaul to the authorities that would nix a $5 trillion summation to the nation’s indebtedness ceiling — a stance that has gotten him into blistery h2o with Trump.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has likewise pledged not to enactment the measure unless overmuch steeper spending cuts are achieved. The House’s merchandise includes $1.5 trillion successful spending cuts implicit the adjacent decade, but Johnson would similar to spot a instrumentality to pre-pandemic spending levels, which would efficaciously magnitude to a astir $6 trillion chopped successful spending.

"I stock his concerns," Johnson said of Musk. "I besides admit what helium and President Trump did with his DOGE effort."

And Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a fiscal hawk whose views are intimately aligned with Johnson’s, argued successful effect to the tech billionaire’s societal media station that "federal spending has go excessive."

"The resulting ostentation harms Americans and weaponizes government," Lee said connected X. "The Senate tin marque this measure better. It indispensable present bash so."

Other Senate Republicans, including those with outstanding concerns with the existent legislation, were overmuch little receptive to Musk’s tirade against the bill.

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Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has remained steadfast successful his presumption that helium would not enactment the existent Medicaid proposals successful the House’s bill, particularly if they chopped benefits to his constituents and radical crossed the country.

When asked his absorption to Musk’s rant, helium shrugged, "Well, he's entitled to his opinion, it's a escaped country."

Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.V., who has expressed reservations connected the contents of the megabill, was much blunt.

"My absorption to that is conscionable simply this — and y'all whitethorn similar this oregon not similar this — but you know, Donald Trump is our president, not Elon Musk," helium said.