Elon Musk has changed his phone number and is no longer responding to messages from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who tried to explain the benefits of Trump’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill,’ which Musk strongly opposes. Johnson, the Republican leader of the House, claims that Musk ‘ghosted’ him after he attempted to persuade the billionaire of the bill’s merits. The incident highlights the deepening rift between Musk and Trump, who have been at odds over the massive tax-and-spending legislation. Johnson, who appeared on the New York Post-affiliated ‘Pod Force One’ podcast, said that he sent Musk a long text message but never received a response. He later realized that he had sent the message into ‘the ether,’ implying that Musk had not read it. Johnson expressed hope of meeting Musk in person to reconcile the two, stating that he wanted to ensure the billionaire understood the strategy behind the spending bill.
Musk, who was once closely aligned with Trump during the latter’s presidential campaign and early months of his administration, has publicly criticized the legislation as a threat to the country’s financial stability. In a series of posts on X earlier this month, Musk warned that Trump’s flagship legislation, which envisions massive spending increases, cuts to social programs, and a sharp hike in the budget deficit, would ‘bankrupt the country.’ Trump responded by suggesting that he might consider deporting Musk to his native South Africa and warned that ending government subsidies for electric vehicles could force the billionaire to ‘close up shop.’ These exchanges have escalated the public feud between the two figures, with Trump even labeling Musk a ‘TRAIN WRECK’ in a post on Truth Social, predicting that Musk’s new ‘America Party’ would be a failure and risk bringing ‘Complete and Total DISRUPTION & CHAOS.’
Despite the public falling-out, both Musk and Trump remain influential figures in American politics. Musk’s recent announcement of a new ‘America Party’ has further fueled tensions, as Trump has dismissed it as a doomed venture. The dispute over the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ has become a focal point of their ideological divide, with Musk representing a more progressive stance on economic policy and Trump embodying a more laissez-faire approach. The situation reflects broader debates over fiscal responsibility, government spending, and the role of private enterprise in shaping national policy. As the legislative battle continues, the fallout between Musk and Trump serves as a stark illustration of the polarized landscape in Washington, D.C.