Billionaire Elon Musk has come under fire for his public criticism of prominent Republican congressional leaders, specifically Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader John Thune, over their support for President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda. The dispute intensified on Thursday, as Musk took to social media to challenge the leaders’ positions on the budgetary implications of the megabill, a sweeping spending proposal that has drawn significant controversy. In his posts, Musk cited a series of past social media messages from Johnson and Thune where they had highlighted concerns regarding the national debt and the deficit. He mocked their current positions by asking, ‘Where is the Mike Johnson of 2023!?’ and ‘Where is the John Thune of 2020?’
Musk, who previously served as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, has remained a vocal critic of the megabill, which he argues would worsen the nation’s fiscal challenges. His criticism has gained traction among his millions of followers, who have been encouraged to ‘kill the bill.’ In recent days, Musk has escalated his efforts, not only by publicly lambasting the proposal but also by threatening to take more direct action against Republican incumbents in the upcoming midterm elections. He has hinted at potential primary challenges or targeted attacks on candidates who support the megabill, signaling a broader political strategy to influence the outcome of the 2026 elections.
Johnson, a key Republican megadonor, had previously described Musk as a ‘good friend’ and mentioned that they had planned to discuss the matter before the dispute escalated. However, as of Thursday, Johnson had not yet responded to Musk’s public criticisms. Thune, meanwhile, sidestepped a question about Musk’s comments, stating, ‘I don’t have an observation about that.’ This lack of direct engagement from the leaders has left Musk’s criticisms to gain more attention, particularly given the growing tension between the tech industry and the Trump administration over economic policies. The situation underscores the increasing role of high-profile figures in shaping political discourse, even amid ongoing debates over fiscal responsibility and public spending.