Elon Musk initiates forceful critique of the federal spending plan, testing his political influence from the outset.
"This legislation shouldn't receive approval," Musk stated earlier today, responding to a post from Vivek Ramaswamy, who serves as a co-leader in Trump's Presidential Transition Team's Department of Government Efficiency department.
"Ever seen a bigger load of bacon?" Musk wrote alongside an image of the bill, referred to as a continuing resolution.
In over twenty posts, Musk criticized the bill on various aspects, labeling it "criminal" for incorporating funding for the State Department's Global Engagement Center, an organization responsible for combating foreign propaganda and misinformation, which Musk identifies as a "censorship operation."
This open dispute presents an early trial of Musk and Ramaswamy's political influence as they aim to reduce government spending, including a minimum of $2 trillion in federal programs - a figure experts have deemed impractical.
Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, also opposed a pay boost for congressional members included in the bill, tagging the post to the top of his X profile. Musk also seemed to issue a political threat to congressional members who vote for the bill, writing "Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this ridiculous spending bill deserves to be removed from office in the upcoming elections!" He also encouraged his followers to contact their representatives to "halt the theft of your tax money."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, has backed the bill, characterizing it as a vital interim solution until the party regulates Congress next year. Speaking on Fox News this morning, Johnson explained that he was in contact with Musk and Ramaswamy to explain the bill's details.
"Keep in mind, we still have merely a thin majority of Republicans, so any bill necessitates Democratic votes," Johnson said. "They comprehend the scenario. They stated, 'this is not directed at you, Mr. Speaker, but we disagree with the spending.' I said, 'fellas, I agree with you as well.'"
Several Republican congressional members have also voiced their opposition to the bill, with Musk sharing numerous comments from these legislators on his social platform.
South Carolina Rep. Ralph Norman stated that any member who supports DOGE initiatives, led by Musk and Ramaswamy, should be opposed to the stopgap bill.
"Any Member who advocates for DOGE should not support this 'CR of Inefficiency' that does not come with offsets!! Don't sway under pressure before we even begin!" Norman wrote.
For the spending measure to pass, Johnson will require approximately 90 members from his own conference to support it.
House Republicans acknowledge that Musk's advocacy campaign has sway within the conference, but not everyone is succumbing to the pressure - at least, not yet. However, as multiple GOP legislators receive calls following Musk's mobilization of his millions of followers, the most influential voice in the discussion, Trump, remains silent.
"We will watch the new power of Elon" GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, who opposes the spending bill and hopes Musk's advocacy campaign persuades his colleagues, told CNN.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole commented, "People put a great deal of confidence in Musk's opinion, but I question whether it has much of an effect on my colleagues."
The incoming vice chair of the House GOP caucus, Rep. Lisa McClain, told CNN, "He's not a member of Congress, but I do think he's a successful entrepreneur, and he's on the DOGE caucus. So, it goes both ways."
One moderate GOP Rep. Don Bacon, who supports the package, stated that Musk was "premature" for speaking out against it so quickly when there are numerous Republican "wins" embedded within.
"He should have obtained the facts" Bacon added.
However, retiring GOP Rep. Debbie Lesko, who is voting against the package, said she "absolutely" hoped Musk's public campaign would convince more of her colleagues to join her.
CNN's Annie Grayer, Lauren Fox, Sarah Ferris, and Haley Talbot contributed.
In the context of Musk and Ramaswamy's attempts to reduce government spending, they also aim to minimize funding for federal programs, not just $2 trillion worth, in the business of media regulation and other sectors.
The ongoing dispute between Musk and House Speaker Mike Johnson about the spending bill has drawn attention to Musk's influence in the media, with his opinions carrying weight among his followers and some GOP representatives.
