
Donald Trump has broken his silence in the face of Elon Musk’s fierce criticism of his “Big beautiful bill”, saying he was “very disappointed” and claiming he would have preferred Musk to attack him rather than his bill: “I’d rather he criticize me than the bill.”
BREAKING: President Trump says he’s ‘very disappointed’ in Elon Musk’s attacks on the GOP spending bill, suggests he’s bitter about losing the electric vehicle mandate.”I’ve helped Elon a lot.”
Donald Trump seemed visibly surprised by the billionaire’s reaction, claiming that his revolt was only explained by the presence in the bill of the electric vehicle measures (EV mandates), which offered favorable tax credits to Tesla.

He adds that Elon Musk has known for a long time that these provisions were part of the text and claims that “Elon knew all along.”
While, according to NBC News, the president claims to have “always liked Elon” and enjoyed a “great relationship” with him, Musk’s characterization of his bill as a “disgusting abomination” seems to have been the last straw, and that Musk might be suffering, in turn, from “a form of Trump Derangement Syndrome”… or TDS.

But…
Whatever.
Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill.
In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful.…
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025

Musk, who invested millions of dollars in the 2024 election to support Donald Trump, followed up his comments with a message…

…claiming that “without him”, Democrats would have control of the House and Trump would have simply lost the election.
“Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk asserts.
Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025
It’s hard to say whether this verbal jousting will end there…

…as Trump seems to take Musk’s criticism as a direct attack against his mandate, while Musk openly claims his decisive role in the Republican victory.