Trump and Musk Team Up to Sink Bipartisan Budget Deal, Sparking Political Chaos

In a dramatic turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump, with the backing of billionaire Elon Musk, derailed bipartisan congressional budget negotiations on Wednesday. The move sent shockwaves through Washington, raising the possibility of a government shutdown and showcasing Musk’s growing influence in U.S. politics.

Trump’s opposition to the deal came through a joint statement with Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, in which they called the budget proposal a giveaway to Democrats. This announcement halted progress on the bill, which had been seen as a must-pass measure to keep the government running. Trump's move followed a day of social media outrage from Musk, who used his platform, X (formerly Twitter), to rally opposition to the bill.

“Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Musk declared on X, calling on Republican lawmakers to oppose the deal. He even threatened to back primary challenges against GOP members who voted in favor of it. Trump later echoed Musk’s rhetoric, amplifying the call to action and urging Republicans to block the proposal.

The growing influence of Musk was on full display. As the richest man in the world and the owner of X, Tesla, and SpaceX, Musk now holds unprecedented sway as a private citizen. Trump has also tapped Musk, along with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency — a task force focused on cutting federal programs, reducing regulations, and firing federal workers.

Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) reported that his office was overwhelmed with calls from angry constituents after Musk's posts. “My phone was ringing off the hook,” Barr said. “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.”

Democrats and some Republicans voiced concern about Musk’s rising political clout. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) commented, “He’s now calling the shots.” Others, however, welcomed Musk's role. Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.) celebrated the development, saying, “I’ve been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic. It has arrived.”

On Wednesday, Trump and Vance urged Republican lawmakers to resume negotiations from scratch. They also proposed including an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is still in office. "Increasing the debt ceiling is not great, but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch,” they said. “If Democrats won’t cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration?”

The decision to torpedo the budget deal marked a return to the kind of political brinkmanship seen during Trump’s first term. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had negotiated the deal, was blindsided by the move. With only a slim Republican majority in the House, Johnson now faces a potential leadership challenge, similar to last year’s internal GOP power struggle.

The timing of Trump’s statement caused disruption for lawmakers. Many were attending holiday and year-end celebrations with staff when the news broke. Senior GOP appropriator Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) voiced his frustration, saying, “I’ve been here 14 years, OK? So nothing up here surprises me anymore. We shouldn’t be in this mess.”

The Biden administration also criticized Trump’s actions, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accusing Republicans of playing politics. “Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country,” she said.

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, expressed concern about Musk's growing role in federal budget discussions. While he praised Musk's ability to rally public support, he questioned whether the billionaire had the necessary political experience. “He doesn’t know politics like he knows physics,” Norquist said.

The opposition to the bill was fueled by claims — some of which were false — spread by Musk and his supporters. For instance, Musk falsely claimed the bill included $3 billion for a new Washington football stadium. In reality, the measure simply transferred ownership of land from the federal government to Washington, D.C., for potential development in the future.

Despite the correction, Musk declared victory, writing, “The voice of the people was heard. This was a good day for America.”

Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Republicans of the fallout. "You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow,” he wrote on X. As the deadline for a government shutdown approaches, the fate of the budget deal remains uncertain, with the blame game already in full swing.