White House Allies ‘Disappointed’ at Musk’s Opposition

“Republican allies close to the White House are privately arguing that the former special government employee — who spent Tuesday afternoon blasting the spending bill and threatening to retaliate against its supporters — is opposing the bill because it harms the tech billionaire’s business interests,” Politico reports.

“The House-passed megabill represents the president’s chief — and potentially only — major legislative priority this Congress. But Elon Musk’s opposition suggests that the coalition that vaulted Trump to the White House is still facing internal disagreement over it as it makes its way through the Senate. It marks another dust-up between the MAGA and Tech Right. And it raises the possibility some members face pressure from Musk if they ultimately support it.”

Playbook: “A careful briefing operation is now underway via Republicans close to the White House — not a push to denigrate Musk per se, but rather to frame his opposition to the bill as what you might call principled self-interest.”