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Elon Musk will primary Republicans who vote for Trump’s budget bill

Ray Bogan (Political Correspondent)
Musk also said if the bill passes he will form a new political party, called the America Party, to oppose both Democrats and Republicans.
Image credit: PATRICK PLEUL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Summary

A primary threat

Elon Musk threatened to primary members of Congress who vote for President Trump’s budget bill, stating it will destroy millions of jobs.

A new political party

Musk also said he would form a new political party, called the America Party, that "actually cares about people."

An approaching deadline

Republicans are trying to get this bill approved before their self-imposed July 4 deadline. It needs to go back to the House after it passes the Senate.

Full story

Elon Musk threatened to primary every member of Congress who votes in favor of President Donald Trump’s tax and budget package, stating it will increase the national debt, hurt the economy and destroy millions of jobs. In a thread posted on X, Musk also said it’s time for a new political party “that actually cares about people.” 

“It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote. 

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Musk said if the bill passes, he will form the “America Party” the next day. He said it will be an alternative to the “Democrat-Republican uniparty.” 

“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!” Musk continued. “And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth.”

Musk then called out the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), a fiscally conservative group that says it adamantly opposes any legislation that adds to the national debt. 

“How can you call yourself the Freedom Caucus if you vote for a DEBT SLAVERY bill with the biggest debt ceiling increase in history?” Musk wrote. 

He specifically pointed to Reps. Andy Harris, R-Md., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, the chairman and policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus. The HFC supported the House’s version of the package when it passed May 22. They are now threatening to withhold their support because they believe the Senate made too many changes. 

In a statement, the Freedom Caucus said the Senate’s bill adds $651 billion to the deficit and that the chamber must do better. 

“That’s not fiscal responsibility. It’s not what we agreed to,” the Freedom Caucus said in a statement. “The Senate must make major changes and should at least be in the ballpark of compliance with the agreed upon House budget framework.” 

What role does the Freedom Caucus play?

The Freedom Caucus has a lot of power here. Since Republicans are working to pass this legislation without any Democratic support, they can only lose three votes to get it across the finish line. The Freedom Caucus has more than 30 members. They have a lot of leverage to force leadership into making changes. 

Republicans are trying to get this bill approved before their self-imposed July 4 deadline. Once the bill comes out of the Senate, it needs to be approved as is by the House. If they make any changes, it will have to be sent back to the Senate.

Snorre Wik (Director of Photography/Non-Linear Editor), Alex Delia (Deputy Managing Editor), and Drew Pittock (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

Elon Musk's public threat to campaign against legislators supporting a major debt-increasing tax and budget bill highlights internal political divisions and raises questions about fiscal responsibility and the emergence of new political movements.

Political accountability

Musk's statements focus on holding members of Congress accountable for campaign promises about government spending, emphasizing political responsibility and responsiveness to constituents.

Fiscal responsibility

Debate over the proposed budget package and its increase to the national debt underscores ongoing concerns about government spending and the economic implications of deficit increases.

Emergence of alternative parties

Musk's threat to form a new political party reflects broader dissatisfaction with the two major parties and the potential for new movements to reshape the U.S. political landscape.

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Behind the numbers

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill" would increase the U.S. deficit by about $3.3 trillion over the next decade. Additionally, the bill could cut Medicaid coverage for 11.8 million people by 2034 and reduce Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by nearly $300 billion, affecting access to health and food support.

Community reaction

Some conservative grassroots activists and deficit hawks have expressed frustration that politicians promising fiscal restraint are supporting such a large debt increase. Supporters of Medicaid and SNAP have voiced concerns about the proposed cuts. Meanwhile, portions of the Republican base remain supportive of Trump’s overall agenda, despite the controversy highlighted by Musk’s opposition.

History lesson

Historically, attempts to significantly cut government spending while also enacting large tax cuts, such as during the Reagan and Bush administrations, resulted in increased deficits. Bipartisan frustration over budget reconciliation and deficit increases has recurred during previous large-scale tax and spend bills.

Sources

  1. Elon Musk on X
  2. House Freedom Caucus via X

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left frame Elon Musk’s opposition to Trump’s $5 trillion debt ceiling bill as a morally urgent battle against reckless GOP spending, branding the party the “PORKY PIG PARTY” and condemning the bill’s “insane” cuts to social programs, using charged terms like “political suicide” to underscore electoral consequences.
  • Media outlets in the center remain neutral and descriptive, highlighting legislative complexities and policy specifics absent from partisan narratives.
  • Media outlets on the right emphasize fiscal conservatism, portraying Musk’s threat to back primary challengers as a call for “true fiscal responsibility” within the GOP and spotlighting intra-party discord with terms like “debt slavery bill” and “incendiary threat.”

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

  • Elon Musk threatened to support primary challenges against Congress members backing Trump's budget bill, stating they should "hang their head in shame" for increasing the debt.
  • Musk argues the bill will increase the federal debt by $5 trillion, which he deems harmful to America and its jobs.
  • He called the spending in the bill "insane" and warned that it could lead to "political suicide for the Republican Party."
  • Musk's comments reflect his disapproval of the bill's spending, making clear he wants to hold accountable those who voted for it.

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Key points from the Center

  • On Monday, June 30, as the Senate kicked off its marathon vote, Elon Musk vowed to bankroll primary challengers against any Republican voting for Trump’s bill.
  • Following Musk's warning, critics cite the bill's extension of 2017 GOP tax cuts and funding for mass deportation, projecting trillions added to the national debt over a decade.
  • The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add $3.3 trillion to deficits and raise the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, which Musk called "the biggest debt increase in history."
  • Musk has publicly vowed to fund primary challenges against Republican lawmakers supporting Trump’s bill, signaling a potential shift in GOP dynamics after initially stepping back from politics.

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Key points from the Right

  • Elon Musk warned Republican lawmakers about supporting President Donald Trump's funding bill, claiming they should feel ashamed of the massive legislation, which he stated increases the debt ceiling by a record $5 trillion.
  • The House of Representatives approved the bill last month, but the Senate began voting on it following Musk's criticism of increased national debt and spending.
  • Musk indicated he would support primary challengers to any Republican who votes for the bill, emphasizing that such actions contradict their claims of fiscal responsibility.
  • Musk criticized the Freedom Caucus for their support of the bill, labeling the proposed spending increases as a move towards "debt slavery."

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Timeline

Sources

  1. Elon Musk on X
  2. House Freedom Caucus via X

Timeline