Tesla CEO Elon Musk has criticized Donald Trump’s sweeping tax bill for increasing the deficit and reversing cost-saving measures Musk once advocated. In a CBS interview preview, Musk lamented the legislation, saying it is at odds with the mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which he led earlier this year.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act delivers on several conservative promises, such as slashing welfare programs and funding a border wall. Yet despite cuts, it significantly increases the national debt. Musk, who has both supported and clashed with the Trump administration in the past, now warns the bill’s consequences could be long-lasting.
Musk’s critique also has personal stakes—Tesla is reeling from a sharp earnings drop and stands to lose vital EV tax incentives under the new bill. Though he once called for an end to such subsidies, the shifting business environment has led him to reconsider their importance in maintaining innovation and market competitiveness.
