Congressional Cowards is a weekly collection highlighting the worst Donald Trump defenders on Capitol Hill, who refuse to criticize him—regardless of how disgraceful or lawless his actions.
President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk are locked in an unsightly breakup—and Republicans are having a tough time selecting sides.
Since leaving the Trump administration in late Might, Musk has gone rogue, brazenly attacking the Home GOP’s “One Huge Stunning Invoice Act” for its deficit-busting tax cuts. He referred to as the laws—which cuts Medicaid and meals stamps however nonetheless would add trillions to the deficit due to its tax cuts, which overwhelmingly profit the wealthy—a “disgusting abomination.” Ouch.
That has angered Trump, who advised reporters on Thursday that his friendship with Musk could also be over, and that Musk is in opposition to the laws solely as a result of it ends electrical car subsidies.
Some Republicans, like Home Speaker Mike Johnson, are taking Trump’s facet, saying that Musk is fallacious and that Republicans must cross the laws.
“I feel he’s flat fallacious … and I’ve advised him as a lot,” Johnson advised reporters on Wednesday, insisting that he is not nervous that the laws will negatively affect Republicans within the 2026 midterm elections.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune additionally downplayed Musk’s criticism and its potential affect on how Senate Republicans will deal with the invoice.
“I can’t communicate to his causes aside from what he said, and I feel that what he said was that he thought it was one thing that may add to the deficit. And we imagine the alternative,” Thune mentioned, rejecting the nonpartisan impartial evaluation that exhibits the laws will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit over the subsequent decade.
Different Republicans say Musk’s issues about the truth that the invoice lifts the debt ceiling and will increase the nationwide deficit are legitimate.
“He has real-world expertise. [JPMorgan Chase CEO] Jamie Dimon has real-world expertise. After they throw up crimson flags in regards to the deficit, we ought to concentrate,” Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland advised reporters. Harris cowardly voted “current” on the invoice to permit it to cross the Home regardless of his reservations with the laws.
“So @elonmusk is correct to name out Home Management. I want I had a nickel for each time the @freedomcaucus sounded the alarm and no person listened, solely to search out out the onerous means we had been proper all alongside,” Rep. Scott Perry, Republican of Pennsylvania, wrote in a publish on X, though Perry voted for the laws he now says is dangerous.
“It’s insincere for @SpeakerJohnson to insinuate @elonmusk is in opposition to the Huge Stunning Invoice as a result of it doesn’t profit his corporations particularly,” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, one among two Home Republicans who voted in opposition to the invoice, wrote on X.
“Musk is a real America First entrepreneur who may have had a way more snug existence and the next internet value by sitting on the sidelines of politics. However he cares about this nation, so he bought concerned. He is aware of if America collapses financially, we aren’t making it to Mars. He’s proper,” Massie added.
Different Republicans need nothing to do with the preventing in any respect, like little youngsters who stick their fingers of their ears when their dad and mom are arguing.
“I ain’t bought any ideas on that. We bought numerous work to do. He doesn’t get to vote,” mentioned Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama.
It is an unsightly battle that might finish badly for the GOP regardless of which facet they select.
Republican lawmakers can face Trump’s MAGA mob in the event that they vote in opposition to the laws, or they may go up in opposition to a Musk-funded major opponent in the event that they vote for the invoice.
Republicans made a cope with two devils—Trump and Musk—they usually’re discovering out the onerous means that their actions have penalties.
