Elon Musk Threatens GOP Lawmakers Over Trump's $5 Trillion Debt Bill

Elon Musk has issued a stern warning to Republican lawmakers, threatening to unseat those who support President Donald Trump’s new tax and spending bill. In a post on X, Musk stated, “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! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.” This warning came just hours before the Senate began voting on Trump’s bill, a 940-page legislative proposal that aims to raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion and significantly reduce federal aid programs.

The Senate initiated the voting process using a method called “vote-a-rama,” which allows any senator to propose an unlimited number of amendments. The goal is to expedite the process and pass the bill before Trump’s July 4 deadline. The bill had already cleared a crucial hurdle with a narrow 51-49 vote on Saturday night, but final passage is not guaranteed. Republicans need 50 of their 53 senators to remain united, and a few have already expressed opposition.

Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky and Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina have both announced their opposition to the bill. Paul opposes the massive debt increase, while Tillis criticized the Medicaid cuts, calling them a betrayal of Trump’s promises. Tillis also criticized Trump’s team for being advised by “amateurs” who confuse real health policy with “waste, fraud and abuse.” Hours before his speech, Tillis announced he would not run for re-election in 2026.

Senator Susan Collins from Maine and Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska have also raised concerns about the bill. Collins is “leaning against” the final vote, preferring higher taxes on wealthy Americans over cuts to Medicaid. Murkowski, who helped push the bill forward, shares similar concerns about health care cuts. The GOP leadership is under pressure to finalize the bill before the July 4 deadline set by Trump, who is now in his second term in the White House.

To obscure the true cost of the bill, the GOP employed a budget tactic called the “current policy baseline.” This tactic reduces the bill’s official price tag by $3.8 trillion by assuming that temporary tax cuts from 2017 were intended to be permanent. This budget trick has never been used before, and on Monday, Republicans voted 53-47 to approve it. Democrats, including Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, have criticized this move, warning that it could have long-term consequences if power shifts.

The bill includes various provisions, such as cutting taxes on tips and overtime pay, adding $150 billion in military funding, and increasing funds for Trump’s immigration and deportation operations. To offset these costs, the bill slashes Medicaid, food stamps, and clean energy funds. It also raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion to avoid a default in August. All these provisions were included in one bill using budget reconciliation, allowing Republicans to bypass the 60-vote rule and avoid a filibuster.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York attempted to slow down the process by forcing a full reading of the bill, extending the process by 16 hours. Democrats plan to use the amendment process to highlight the negative impacts of the GOP’s proposal, particularly on rural hospitals and health coverage. However, they lack the votes to stop the bill. If the Senate passes the bill, it will move to the House, which already passed its version on May 22 by a single vote. Speaker Mike Johnson and his team have instructed Republicans to be ready to return to Washington as early as Tuesday, with the final House vote potentially occurring as soon as Wednesday. Trump aims to have the bill signed before Friday.