Trump claims Elon already knew everything about bill

(MENAFN) Leader Donald Trump expressed dismay on Thursday over Elon Musk’s opposition to his key tax and spending bill, as reported by various sources. Musk, who previously served as a close advisor within the White House, has intensified his criticism of the legislation, despite once being a central figure in Trump’s initiative to overhaul the federal bureaucracy.

During an Oval Office appearance with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump suggested Musk’s recent complaints may be linked to his departure from government service. “I think he misses the place. I think he got out there and all of a sudden he wasn't in this beautiful Oval Office,” Trump said.

He continued, “I'm very disappointed, because Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here, better than you people. He knew everything about it. He had no problem with it. All of a sudden, he had a problem, and he only developed the problem when he found out that we're going to have to cut the EV mandate, because that's billions and billions of dollars, and it really is unfair.”

The “EV mandate” in question refers to a one-time tax credit of up to $7,500 for consumers purchasing electric vehicles.

Although Trump acknowledged that Musk hasn’t personally insulted him, he added, “He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. But I'm very disappointed in Elon. I've helped Elon a lot.”

Musk didn’t delay in firing back, sharing a brief “whatever” on X and pushing back against Trump’s suggestion that he had reviewed the bill before leaving his position. He labeled that claim as “false.” Musk did, however, concede that some of his disapproval is tied to the planned elimination of the electric vehicle tax credit.

“This bill was never shown to me even once and was passed in the dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!” Musk wrote.

He added, “Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill. In the entire history of civilization, there has never been legislation that both big and beautiful. Everyone knows this! Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.”

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