House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was surprised by Elon Musk's criticism of the "big, beautiful bill." (Associated Press)
ELON MUSK WARNS EXCESSIVE SPENDING WILL PLUNGE US 'INTO DEBT SLAVERY'
The Republican House leader said he and Musk, whom he considers a "friend," had a "great conversation" about the "big, beautiful bill" Monday. The tech billionaire apparently joked that the bill could not be "big and beautiful," to which Johnson replied, "Oh, yes it can, my friend. It’s very beautiful."
"Elon and I left on a great note. We were texting one another — you know, happy texts," Johnson told reporters. The speaker added he was surprised when Musk came out against the bill the next day.
"I think he’s flat wrong," Johnson said. "I think he’s way off on this, and I’ve told him as much."
Johnson also praised the "obviously brilliant" tech billionaire for his work with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government waste.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., speaks during a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center after a meeting of the House Republican Conference Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., right, and Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., also appear. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"We need to go find the other Solimans and get them out of America," Johnson said in reference to suspected Boulder, Colorado, attacker Mohamed Soliman, the Egyptian national accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of people calling for the release of hostages being held in Gaza.
Now that the bill has passed the House, it’s up to Senate Republicans to meet President Donald Trump’s July 4 deadline.
Rachel Wolf is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital and FOX Business.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/johnson-surprised-musks-criticism-big-beautiful-bill-hes-flat-wrong