WASHINGTON – The White House has officially responded to Elon Musk’s sharp criticism of the United States budget bill proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

The formal response came from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press conference, as quoted by Fox News (4/6).

Asked whether President Trump was upset about Musk’s comments, Leavitt calmly replied, “The President already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn’t change the president’s opinion. This is one, big, beautiful bill and he’s sticking to it,”

Leavitt also underscored that opposition from figures like Musk and several Republican senators is nothing new, and the President remains confident in his fiscal agenda.

“Those senators, it’s not news that they disagree with this president on policy, and the president has vocally called them out for it and for not having their facts together,” she stated.

She added that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projections regarding the bill’s cost have often been inaccurate.

While the White House maintains its narrative that the bill will serve as a strong foundation for development, several Republican senators — including Rand Paul, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis — have openly rejected it.

Senator Rand Paul even voiced support for Musk’s criticism, strongly opposing the proposed debt ceiling increase. This drew a response from Trump, who mocked Paul as a senator who only says no and lacks constructive ideas.

A White House source told The Hill that Trump is now engaging directly with senators in an effort to reverse the opposition.

“He knows who’s against him and plans to meet with them in person,” the source said.

Earlier, in a post on social media platform X, Elon Musk described the bill as a “disgusting abomination” laden with inefficient spending and raising the national debt ceiling by up to USD 4 trillion.

Musk’s scathing remarks came despite his earlier announcement that he was stepping back from politics and his role as Head of Government Efficiency.

“I’m sorry, but I just can’t stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” Musk wrote on X, as quoted by Unilad Tech on Thursday (5/6).

He added that the policy would widen the budget deficit to USD 2.5 trillion and saddle Americans with an unsustainable level of debt. (EF/ZH)