Musk Fact-Checks Trump During Live Press Conference

Elon Musk publicly challenged President Trump’s statements regarding a recently passed spending bill, offering a running commentary on X (formerly Twitter) during Trump’s own press conference Thursday. As the President addressed reporters, claiming disappointment with Musk’s criticism, the Tesla founder actively disputed the bill’s merits and the narrative surrounding its creation.

Musk initially posted support for streamlining the legislation, writing, “Slim Beautiful Bill for the win,” followed by, “Keep the good, remove the bad.” He signaled approval of cuts to electric vehicle incentives, despite what he characterized as a continued subsidization of oil and gas industries – a point he labeled “very unfair!!” – but vehemently objected to what he termed “a MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK” within the bill.

He argued for a binary choice: “Either you get a big and ugly bill or a slim and beautiful bill. Slim and beautiful is the way.” Musk further asserted that he had never been shown the bill prior to its passage, claiming it was rushed through Congress “so fast that almost no one…could even read it!” He previously labeled the bill an “abomination” and called for its rejection.

The unusual public back-and-forth highlights a growing tension between the tech entrepreneur and the President, particularly regarding economic policy and government spending. Musk’s real-time fact-checking, while unconventional, demonstrates the power of social media to directly challenge official narratives and influence public discourse. It also raises questions about transparency in the legislative process and the extent to which key stakeholders are consulted before major bills are passed. While Musk’s rhetoric is often hyperbolic, his core argument – that the bill contains excessive and unnecessary spending – resonates with a growing number of fiscal conservatives and those concerned about the national debt.