White House allies 'disappointed' at Musk's opposition to the megabill

Adam Wren, Adam Cancryn and Dasha Burns

Tue, Jun 3, 2025, 9:09 PM 3 min read

Republican allies close to the White House are privately arguing that the former special government employee — who spent Tuesday afternoon blasting the spending bill and threatening to retaliate against its supporters — is opposing the bill because it harms the tech billionaire's business interests.

The House-passed megabill represents the president's chief — and potentially only — major legislative priority this Congress. But Musk's opposition suggests that the coalition that vaulted Trump to the White House is still facing internal disagreement over it as it makes its way through the Senate. It marks another dust-up between the MAGA and Tech Right. And it raises the possibility some members face pressure from Musk if they ultimately support it. 

“The West Wing is perplexed, unenthused, and disappointed" with Musk, who left the White House to attend to his ailing business empire, according to one White House official, who like others interviewed for this story were granted anonymity to be candid about an ally who spent hundreds of millions to ensconce them in the White House.

Among other criticisms, Musk posted to X on May 29 that the bill would not "change tax incentives for oil & gas, just EV/solar,” and Tesla Energy has also come out against the bill. ·

The legislation terminates multiple tax credits that Tesla — as one of the largest electric vehicle manufacturers in America — currently qualifies for: a $7,500 federal tax credit for new EVs, the $4,000 credit for used EVs, and a $1,000 credit for Level 2 charger installation. The bill would also impose a $250 yearly federal registration fee for EV owners only.

If the bill is passed as currently written, Tesla’s $11.4 billion in regulatory credits wouldexpire at the end of 2025.Those credits contributed to Tesla’s profitability in the first quarter this year.

Axios first reported some of the recent tension points between Musk and White House aides.

The White House allies urged a more critical look at Musk and Tesla's claims about the megabill.

“When businessmen criticize legislation, journalists don't take them at their word, they look at how the legislation would impact their business interests,” said a Republican close to the White House. “They should be doing that in this case.”

Musk’s broadsides against the bill angered the White House, which came amid a critical effort this week to line up support for the package in the Senate.

At a Tuesday briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt downplayed the criticism, saying Trump “already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.”