House Speaker Johnson Dismisses Musk Influence on GOP Tax Bill

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has firmly sided with President Donald Trump in their public rift with Elon Musk over a significant GOP tax and budget bill. Johnson dismissed Musk's harsh criticism of the bill, which Musk labeled an "abomination" that would increase U.S. debt and threaten economic stability, emphasizing that the legislation is designed to help hardworking Americans rather than satisfy the wealthiest individual. Despite Musk's calls for voters to oppose the bill and his threats to financially support opponents of Republican members backing it, Johnson reported minimal impact on congressional offices and characterized the response as largely cautious or supportive. Johnson also highlighted that Musk still believes GOP policies foster economic growth, innovation, and job creation. Republicans, including Trump’s White House budget chief, continue to counter predictions that the bill will worsen deficits, challenging analyses by the Congressional Budget Office. Overall, Johnson projects confidence that the bill will pass despite Musk's vocal opposition and ongoing tensions between Trump and Musk.