WASHINGTON — Could President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” be headed for a massive flop?
The centerpiece of Trump’s second-term agenda—a sprawling tax and policy overhaul—is running into fierce resistance, not just from wary Senate Republicans but also from one of Trump’s former allies: billionaire Elon Musk. Critics are sounding alarms over the bill’s enormous price tag and controversial trade-offs, especially cuts to popular programs like Medicaid, which many Americans rely on. At the same time, the bill’s biggest benefits appear to tilt toward high-income earners, further stoking dissent.
With razor-thin Republican control in both chambers and Democrats standing united in opposition, the pressure is on. Even within Trump’s own party, unease is mounting. GOP lawmakers are grappling with internal divisions and a looming self-imposed July 4 deadline to deliver the bill to Trump’s desk.
“We’re anxious to get to work on it,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., earlier this week, as frustrations began spilling into public view—not just from lawmakers but also from Musk himself.
Adding to the drama: some House Republicans who voted in favor of the bill’s initial 1,100-page version are now voicing regrets, claiming they might have voted no if given another chance.
A History of Going Big—And the Risks That Come With It
Newly inaugurated presidents often try to ride the momentum of their election victories to pass landmark legislation. Joe Biden tackled infrastructure. Barack Obama went all in on healthcare. George W. Bush focused on education reform. Trump, in 2025, burst into action with an avalanche of executive orders—157 by May 23. Then came the big legislative swing.
Rather than tackle tax reform and border security separately, Trump opted to roll all his priorities into one sweeping bill. The goal? Speed. Fewer battles. One clean political win. But lawmakers generally resist stuffing too many contentious issues into a single bill, as each provision can spark unique opposition. With Democrats unified in resistance, Trump doubled down, banking on GOP unity and pushing hard behind the scenes to lock down votes.
“Americans have given us a mandate for bold and profound change,” Trump declared to Congress on March 4. Then, on June 2, he turned up the pressure in a social media blast: “I call on all of my Republican friends in the Senate and House to work as fast as they can to get this Bill to MY DESK before the Fourth of JULY.”
Musk Turns on Trump
Trump’s gamble worked—at least in the House. After marathon negotiations and a late-night floor debate, the bill narrowly passed 215-214, with full White House support. But the Senate, despite a Republican majority, is proving a different beast.
Enter Elon Musk. Once Trump’s deregulation czar, Musk spent the past week torching the bill on social media. He called it “pork-filled,” a “disgusting abomination,” and urged lawmakers to “KILL the BILL.” The tirade sparked a feud with Trump and created a ripple effect among Republicans.
Some, like Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., welcomed Musk’s critique. “We often disappoint our voters when we don’t do the cuts we campaign on,” he said. “I welcome people like Elon Musk that try to hold our feet to the fire.”
Others weren’t so thrilled.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a 30-year Air Force veteran, lamented the public rift. “It’s just not helpful,” he said. “When you have division, divided teams don’t perform as well.”
Senate Pushback Intensifies
Trump now faces multiple resistance points in the Senate. Different factions have different concerns, each posing a threat to the fragile coalition needed for passage.
One group is demanding deeper spending cuts after the Congressional Budget Office projected the bill would balloon the national debt by $2.4 trillion over the next decade. Others are worried about proposed reductions to Medicaid. A third bloc is upset over the rollback of tax credits for renewable energy.
“There are many of us who recognize that what came out of the House was pretty aggressive,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. “We’ve got tax policies that are helping advance diverse energy initiatives nationwide. Why pull back now?”
And then there’s Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who didn’t mince words: “This bill is the opposite of conservative, and we should not pass it,” he posted on June 4, citing concerns about the ballooning debt limit.
As the clock ticks down, Trump’s “big beautiful bill” risks becoming a massive political misstep—unless he can pull off a legislative miracle.
