Trump’s Controversial Tax Bill Clears Congress Amid Musk Feud, GOP Rifts
Washington, D.C. – July 4:
U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tax and spending bill has narrowly passed both chambers of Congress, setting the stage for a high-profile signing on Independence Day. The House of Representatives approved the bill on Thursday with a razor-thin margin—218 votes in favor and 214 against. Notably, two Republican lawmakers, Thomas Massie and Brian Fitzpatrick, broke ranks and voted against the measure.
This comes just two days after the Senate cleared the bill with a 51-50 vote, relying on Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking ballot. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt confirmed that Trump will officially sign the legislation at a grand ceremony at 5 PM on July 4.
Musk Labels Bill ‘Madness,’ Resigns in Protest
The bill has drawn fierce backlash from tech mogul Elon Musk, who slammed it as a “disgusting abomination” in a fiery series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). Musk recently resigned from his role as head of the Government Efficiency Department under Trump, citing the legislation as the reason.
The proposed law cuts subsidies critical to Musk’s ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. Musk warned the move could cost millions of jobs and threaten U.S. competitiveness, claiming it favors obsolete sectors over future innovation. His comments have since been echoed by several top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Trump Hits Back: “Ungrateful” Musk Benefited from Public Money
In response, Trump launched a blistering attack on Musk, accusing him of hypocrisy. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “Without government subsidies, Elon would be back in South Africa shutting down his companies.” He also called for an investigation into the public funds received by Musk’s businesses, adding, “EVs are fine, but I was always against forcing people to buy them. Musk knew that.”
The public feud escalated with Trump branding Musk “crazy,” while Musk fired back, calling Trump “ungrateful” and even suggesting impeachment. Musk posted, “If not for me, Trump would have lost the election,” further inflaming the political drama.
Internal GOP Tensions Surface
The episode has exposed deep fractures within the Republican Party. The defection of Massie and Fitzpatrick signals discomfort among conservatives about the long-term impact of Trump’s bill.
With the legislation now heading to Trump’s desk, all eyes are on the July 4 signing—likely to be as politically charged as the journey that brought it there.
— The Political Observer
