Elon Musk, the tech trailblazer who redefined cars and rockets, thought he could reinvent government, too. He teamed up with Donald Trump, leading a charge to slash wasteful spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. But now, Musk’s calling out Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a massive spending plan that he says is a step backward. “It increases the deficit and undermines our work,” Musk said in a recent interview.

The bill, which scraped through the House, is packed with tax cuts, defense boosts, and border security measures—potentially adding trillions to the national debt. For Musk, who’s all about efficiency and bold solutions, it’s a betrayal of the lean government he envisioned. He spent months cutting billions, only to see this plan threaten it all. “A bill can be big or beautiful, but not both,” he said, his wit sharp but his frustration clear.

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As Musk steps back to focus on his tech empire, his rift with Trump highlights a clash of visions. The Senate’s debate could decide if this bill—and their partnership—survives.