Musk joins Trump in playing legislative arsonist

For years, congressional Republicans have dealt with a president in Donald Trump who isn’t terribly engaged in (or often seemingly aware of) the day-to-day legislative battles – right up until the point he decides to make a splash.

For years, congressional Republicans have dealt with a president in Donald Trump who isn’t terribly engaged in (or often seemingly aware of) the day-to-day legislative battles – right up until the point he decides to make a splash. Sometimes, they’ll gently suggest he might get involved in the process a little earlier. Often, he waits and then just blows up the whole thing, forcing lawmakers to scramble to address his whims. As far back as 2018, I compared Trump to a legislative “arsonist.” It’s a tough enough situation for GOP lawmakers as it is. But now they apparently have two billionaire legislative arsonists leading their movement. Elon Musk on Tuesday afternoon lit into what Trump’s calling his “Big, Beautiful Bill,” which is largely devoted to extending his tax cuts. The bill has tested the tolerance of both fiscal conservatives who are worried about it ballooning the national debt and Republicans who want to protect Medicaid, which the House GOP’s version targets for significant cuts. And Musk wasn’t content to just express his opposition. He went so far as to call it a “disgusting abomination” that explodes the debt – contrary to GOP leaders’ and the White House’s claims. He accused Republicans who support it of knowing better. And he even suggested those who run afoul of him could find themselves targeted in the 2026 election.