On June 4, as reported by Russia’s Sputnik, American billionaire Elon Musk launched a scathing critique of a bill proposed by US leaders to cut federal spending, an action that has apparently irked Donald Trump. Musk’s “destructive behavior” on social media has caught the attention of the former president.
On June 3, Musk labeled Trump’s so – called “big and beautiful” federal spending cut bill as “abominable.” He also took aim at congressmen who supported the bill, launching insults their way. Musk emphasized that the implementation of this bill would saddle American citizens with “unbearable debts.”
Strained Relationship Between Musk and Trump
According to the US news website Axios, “Musk and Trump remain friends and allies… Trump is somewhat annoyed by the billionaire’s disruptive behavior on social media.” The website further noted that Musk’s harsh criticism of Trump’s budget proposals has “shocked” the presidential team.
Four Key Turning Points Behind Musk’s Criticism
A source informed the Axios news website that there were likely four key turning points that led to Musk’s criticism of the Trump bill.
Firstly, the bill includes provisions to reduce tax subsidies for electric vehicles. These subsidies have been beneficial to car manufacturers, Tesla included. This move could potentially impact Tesla’s business interests, prompting Musk’s discontent.
Secondly, during his tenure as a “special government employee” at the White House, Musk had discussions about the possibility of extending his position for an additional 130 days. However, government officials ultimately decided that he could not remain in the role, which might have contributed to his growing dissatisfaction.
The third turning point, as reported by Axios, was Musk’s proposal to have the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) utilize his “Starlink” satellite system for managing national air traffic. But this suggestion was met with opposition from the government, further straining his relationship with the administration.
Finally, for Musk, the last straw seemed to be Trump’s sudden announcement on the evening of May 31 to withdraw the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a friend of Musk’s, for the position of director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This decision appears to have been the tipping point that led Musk to publicly criticize Trump’s federal spending cut bill.
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