"He's a complete joke": GOP rage with Musk spills out privately after break with Trump

House Republicans' longstanding frustrations with Elon Musk are spilling out in an unprecedented way behind closed doors after he criticized them for supporting President Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill."Why it matters: In some lawmakers' telling, the internal GOP frustration didn't come about overnight. It's been stewing for months — and Musk has now opened the floodgates."He's a complete joke. He had no idea what the f*** he was doing, whatsoever," said one House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation from the billionaire Tesla owner.The lawmaker added: "Nobody really wanted him here. We couldn't wait to get rid of him."A second lawmaker pointedly noted electric vehicle manufacturers like Tesla benefit from tax credits the bill would eliminate: "Some of the things he's advocating for now serve his own purpose. So I guess he's now lobbying just like everybody else."State of play: Since Tuesday, Musk has been on a social media rampage against Republicans' marquee tax and spending cuts bill, arguing that it doesn't go nearly far enough in reducing the deficit.The recently departed Trump lieutenant wrote on his social media app, X, that the bill is an "disgusting abomination" and called to "fire all politicians who betrayed the American people."On Wednesday he took a step further — despite GOP efforts to talk him down — arguing that a "new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit."Spokespeople for Trump and the White House did not respond to requests for comment on this story.Between the lines: Musk has always had an uneasy relationship with Republican lawmakers, many of whom shuddered as he hacked and slashed spending in ways that negatively impacted their districts.But for the most part, they stayed mute and conciliatory for fear of antagonizing a man whose $420 billion net worth would be enough to foot the bill for the entire 2024 election more than 40 times over.Even now, many House Republicans expressed extreme reluctance to put their names to even mild criticism of the mercurial billionaire.What we're hearing: "He can say whatever he wants to. I don't care. I don't really pay attention," said the second House Republican. "He's not elected. He served at the pleasure of the president. He no longer does."A third called Musk's comments about the bill "ridiculous," venting, "He's never run for office. He's never been in elected office ... He's always been able to be a dictator."A fourth told Axios of Musk's call to oust those who supported the bill: "Many GOP members didn't boast Musk's support when he was in favor of the bill.""We are not deterred by his opposition now that he is against it," they added.The intrigue: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told House Republicans in a closed-door conference meeting on Wednesday that Trump himself is "pissed off" at Musk, according to a person familiar with the matter.Johnson said at a press conference after the meeting that he talks to Trump "multiple times a day" and that the president is "not delighted that Elon did a 180."The first House Republican backed up that assertion, telling Axios: "The president couldn't wait to get rid of him.""I knew it was a matter of time before the two alpha males would explode, fight each other," said a fifth House Republican.The other side: Musk still has a base of support in Congress, with many of House Republicans' more right-leaning fiscal hawks saying they are in accordance with his point of view.Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said he spoke with Musk on Tuesday, telling Axios: "Our conversations have been friendly in nature ... I agree with him that we can and should do more in the House."Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) argued that if Musk's comments had been "more milquetoast, it wouldn't have gotten the news," adding that he makes a "fair point."

Comments

World news

Evacuations as Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupts again

Independent

Trump promises ‘thundering tanks and breathtaking flyovers’ at military parade on Flag Day: ‘Like nothing you’ve ever seen’

about 3 hours ago

Putin’s desperate struggle to replace nuclear-capable bombers lost in Ukraine drone strikes

Independent

Comments

World news

Evacuations as Guatemala’s Volcano of Fire erupts again

Trump and Musk’s spectacular split minute-by-minute: How president and First Buddy’s friendship unraveled online

Musk shares footage of Trump partying with Jeffrey Epstein as feud intensifies

Red Cross confirms office closures in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff

Why Trump and Musk’s spectacular feud could be a disaster for space travel

Australian woman accused of mushroom poisoning admits possible online search for deadly fungi

Human remains found in search for missing teen Pheobe Bishop hours after housemates charged with murder

Pope meets with child protection advisory board as survivors call for zero tolerance of abuse

Hajj attendance falls to 30-year-low excluding the COVID-19 pandemic period

Modi inaugurates ambitious rail project connecting Kashmir to Indian plains

Jury finds 2 men guilty of supplying the bomb used to kill Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

Red Cross confirms office closures in Niger and the departure of its foreign staff

Reality star Kristina Belaya, 24, dies after ‘slipping and banging her head while getting out of the bath’

I was banged up in hellhole prison like Brit drug mules & preyed on by pervy guards… sick ways they break female inmates

Putin plotting ‘final killer offensive’ to attack Ukraine on 3 fronts to win war – even as his losses near ONE MILLION

Woman whose bouncy castle was blown into air killing six children acquitted

The Aftermath of Mexico’s Judicial Elections

One thing we can count on to keep ruining our summers

Beware of this silent, seething relationship-killer

Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour is a stadium-shaking spectacle

Where lightning storms are expected to hit as 5cm rain to soak UK

I was a pilot for 40 years – here’s how we deal with extreme turbulence

Calum Scott: The therapy that saved my life – and healed my body dysmorphia

How new pension inheritance tax raid could hit small family businesses

St Denis Medical cast, filming locations and BBC episode guide

George Ford opens up on offers to leave Sale and Owen Farrell’s England return

Every blow traded as Trump and Musk’s break-up went nuclear

I serve school dinners at state schools and private schools – here’s the difference

‘Godzilla ruined the city’: How Elon Musk failed at Doge

Father's Day gift guide for 2025: Handpicked presents from £7 to suit every kind of dad

Donald Trump and Elon Musk mocked by Putin's pal offering to 'facilitate peace'

Canadian Baseball Hall to welcome Class of 2025

Germany’s Merz says he’s confident Trump is committed to NATO

Tesla shares plunge as investors concerned over Musk, Trump feud

How to keep your pet cool all summer long

Hilarious moment Brits sprint for best sunbeds the second pool opens at Spanish hotel

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kremlin bristles at Trump after he compares war to ‘kids fighting in a park’

Diddy trial live: Combs’s ex-girlfriend ‘Jane’ to return to stand after judge threatens to remove rapper

Australian engineer freed on bail after four years in Iraqi prison

Three New Zealand MPs suspended for performing haka in parliament

Trump promises ‘thundering tanks and breathtaking flyovers’ at military parade on Flag Day: ‘Like nothing you’ve ever seen’

Putin’s desperate struggle to replace nuclear-capable bombers lost in Ukraine drone strikes

Iranians react to new Trump travel ban as tensions are high between nations

Terrifying moment bouncy castle takes off in freak wind flying 40ft into air sending children plunging back to earth

12 injured at DHL depot & hazmat cops deployed after ‘suspicious package’ found following spate of Putin parcel attacks

Watch determined tourists wear sprint shoes & even STRETCH before dawn dash for Magaluf pool spot…having queued for 1hr

Pregnant teacher, 36, who had ‘sex with pupil, 15, after she groomed him’ breaks down in tears in court

Sunbed Wars 2025 arrives in Benidorm after holidaymakers ‘stampede’ for best loungers

Spanish police cause uproar over photo of older women enjoying alfresco chat

The Ukrainians’ New Way of War

What today’s new college graduates are up against

Ketamine is suddenly everywhere

Minister 'not going to speculate' on alleged UK involvement in Ukrainian drone attack

Bournemouth refusing to budge on £45m fee for Liverpool target Kerkez

Israel is winning the war in Gaza – a two-state solution is becoming impossible

Ignore the dictators! It’s time for Club World Cup to unite the world

US economy meltdown in Living Nostradamus’ chilling predictions for next 3 years

JD Vance breaks silence on Musk-Trump row leaving one of them in stitches

Madeleine McCann update as bombshell new 'police tip-off' claim revealed

Husband killed, castrated and then cooked and eaten by his own wife