Billionaire Elon Musk has announced his departure from his role in the US government, following a significant rift with President Donald Trump over the president’s spending bill. Musk, who served as a senior advisor to the president and was tasked with reducing federal spending, expressed his disappointment with Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act.” This bill, which has passed the US House and is headed to the Senate, proposes extensive tax relief and spending cuts. However, critics argue it will increase the national deficit by up to $4 trillion over a decade and gut healthcare.
Musk’s main concern is that the bill would undermine the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has already fired tens of thousands of people. As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has been a prominent figure in the White House, often overshadowing Trump’s cabinet members. Despite his influential role, Musk’s tenure was marked by controversy, including allegations of performing a Nazi salute at a Trump rally and endorsing Germany’s far-right AfD party.
The disagreement over the spending bill marks a rare public split between Musk and Trump, who have otherwise enjoyed a close relationship. Musk had been a key backer of Trump’s presidential campaign, and his departure from the government role may signal a shift in their alliance.
