House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was "surprised" by Elon Musk's criticism of the "Big Beautiful Bill." (Associated Press)
"If it was to truly kill the bill, then – I get it, he’s not an elected official – but you never really make such a bold statement without having a Plan B, and clearly, there’s no Plan B," he said.
House GOP lawmakers have for the most part, however, appeared in agreement on Musk ultimately having little impact on their actions.
"I don’t think he carries the same kind of gravitas that he did," Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said.
Another House Republican told Fox News Digital, "When he’s not standing by the president’s side, he doesn’t have the same weight."
Congressional Republicans are working to pass a mammoth bill advancing Trump’s priorities on taxes, immigration, energy, defense and the national debt via the budget reconciliation process.
Reconciliation allows the party in power to totally sideline opposition – in this case, Democrats – to pass a sweeping piece of fiscal legislation by lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51.
But there are rules and limitations for what can be included in the budget reconciliation process. House GOP leaders say they will seek to codify spending cuts identified by Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) via the annual congressional appropriations process.
That has not stopped Musk from unleashing his fury against the bill over the money it could add to the already $36 trillion-and-counting federal debt.
"Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL," Musk wrote on X, among other posts.
House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, said Musk has ‘created a bigger challenge’ ((Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images))
"The challenge is, he's a he's a credible guy, and he's done, a patriotic service," Arrington said, referring to DOGE. I just think he's just wrong about his comments that mischaracterize the one big, beautiful bill."
"So to say that it's a problem or that it has created a bigger challenge for us, is true. Because he's got a big voice, he's got a big audience. And more importantly, it's a credible voice. But he's wrong on this issue."
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Conservative Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said, "I would have preferred that he not go the direction that he went…maybe it was to encourage Congress to get on the ball with these rescissions packages that are coming."
The White House, meanwhile, has stood by the bill.
"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," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/elon-musk-warpath-against-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-rattles-house-gop