WASHINGTON − Washington’s once-inseparable duo is back to throwing social media barbs. And some lawmakers are over it.
President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk reignited their rift this week, after the former White House adviser resumed criticism of Trump’s sweeping tax, spending and policy bill. Things escalated to the point of Trump floating a threat to deport Musk, a South Africa native.
Trump’s ire was piqued over Musk’s barrage of X posts blasting the legislation for what he argues is a hike in federal government spending. Musk also threatened to challenge Republican senators who voted in favor of the bill in upcoming elections.
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“Strong personalities can, you know, sometimes really conflict with one another. I think that’s a shame,” Sen. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, told USA TODAY when asked about the riff. “I just wish Elon would go on and say, ‘Okay, let’s be happy with what we did, and let’s get on with life and everything.’ It’s this little volley and back and forth, I don’t think (is) constructive at all.
Musk, owner of the electric car company Tesla, has also taken issue with certain energy provisions in the bill, including green energy tax credits and taxes for certain renewable energy projects.
“I get his perspective, I’m respective of that,” Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, said. “That’s his company, that’s his perspective. I’m not opposed to any of those energy sources. The question is, how long do we subsidize and how big?”
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“We decided it’s been long enough,” Lankford told USA TODAY, after the vote.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said that Musk has a “right to his opinion.”
“I think it’s a good product for the country, and I think those who voted for it, I think we helped the country in several areas,” Graham said.
Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a staunch Trump ally, called Musk a “great guy.” He added that Musk has “done a lot of good for our country” and said he had no concerns about the billionaire’s criticism.
The ex-adviser’s opinion did not stop the Senate from moving forward and advancing the bill, though not without the tie-breaking help of Vice President JD Vance. Now it heads to the House, where the revised legislation may meet a lukewarm welcome from fiscal conservatives who were hesitant to pass it the first time around.
Florida Republican Rep. Mike Haridopolos dismissed concerns that Musk’s attacks or threats of primary challenges would make a difference in its passage again in the House.“He’s a great American citizen, and he has concerns about the bill,” Haridopolos said of Musk, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2002. “And you know, there is no such thing as a perfect bill, but we were trying to keep the promises that we made during the campaign, and without question, those are in the bill.”
Contributing: Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Musk and Trump battle over tax bill. Republican lawmakers are over it
