As lawmakers prepared to vote on President Donald Trump’s ambitious spending bill, House Republicans appeared unfazed by comments made by tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Musk, who previously led Trump’s Office of Government Efficiency, was quite critical of the president’s efforts. He kept his criticisms close until Senate Republicans began advancing the bill earlier this week.
“We’re not worried about a minor threat here,” Representative Buddy Carter from Georgia told Fox News Digital. “Elon has done significant work at Doge, and I’m appreciative of that. But we have a responsibility to move forward with this.”
Musk has expressed his concerns regarding the bill’s hefty price tag of $3.3 trillion, especially in relation to the existing $37 trillion national debt. He even hinted at potential consequences for Republicans who support it.
This isn’t the first time Musk has weighed in on such matters.
Amid hours of negotiations and delays, House Republicans moved closer to voting, and interestingly, many members seemed indifferent to Musk’s threat.
Meanwhile, Trump urged Republicans to stay strong as procedural votes unfolded in the House regarding this legislation.
Representative Tim Wahlberg from Michigan shared his view, focusing on what House members could achieve, saying, “I think we can do better than what Elon Musk has accomplished.” He added, “I’m not really concerned about him. Sure, Doge has improved some government functions, but the $2 trillion he mentioned doesn’t add up.”
Additionally, Musk voiced his frustrations with modifications to the Senate bill, criticizing it for potentially adding to the national deficit.
Rep. Brad Knott from North Carolina pointed out that the bill would be trimmed by $1.5 trillion to balance the costs associated with extending or implementing Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed gratitude for Musk’s focus on debt reduction but hoped Musk would recognize they share common goals.
The Senate’s adjustments to Medicaid, particularly linked to Joe Biden’s inflation reduction measures and various green energy initiatives, have stirred unease among fiscal conservatives. Nonetheless, House Republican leaders are confident that the bill will ultimately pass.
