WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President-elect delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan , rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats after billionaire ally Elon Musk whipped up outrage toward the bill and cheered on Republican lawmakers who announced their opposition.
Trump's joint statement Wednesday with Vice President-elect JD Vance stopped the bill in its tracks and punctuated a torrent of social media posts by Musk attacking the legislation for what he described as excessive spending.
鈥淪top the steal of your tax dollars!鈥� Musk wrote on his social media platform X as he dangled primary challenges against anyone who voted for the budget deal, a threat Trump later echoed in a post of his own.
The episode showcased the growing political influence of Musk, whom Trump has selected alongside entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy to spearhead the , a nongovernmental task force formed to find ways to fire federal workers, cut programs and reduce regulations.
Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, said his office was flooded with calls from constituents.
鈥淢y phone was ringing off the hook," he said. 鈥淭he people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.鈥�
In his statement with Vance, Trump said Republicans should restart negotiations over the legislation, arguing that 鈥渁nything else is a betrayal of our country.鈥� He also called for including an extension of the debt ceiling while President Joe Biden is in office.
鈥淚ncreasing the debt ceiling is not great but we鈥檇 rather do it on Biden鈥檚 watch," they said. "If Democrats won鈥檛 cooperate on a debt ceiling increase now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let鈥檚 have this debate over the debt ceiling now.鈥�
Trump's opposition to what was considered must-pass legislation reinjected a sense of uncertainty and political brinkmanship that was reminiscent of his first term in office. It was a dramatic turn of events for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who negotiated the bill and has been undermined by Trump as he faces reelection for his post in just a couple of weeks. Republicans have a slim majority, raising the possibility of that paralyzed the House a year ago.
Many lawmakers were in the middle of holiday and year-end celebrations with staff when Trump came out against the legislation.
鈥淚鈥檝e been here 14 years, OK? So nothing up here surprises me anymore,鈥� said Rep. Steve Womack, a senior Republican appropriator from Arkansas. 鈥淲e shouldn鈥檛 be in this mess.鈥�
The Biden administration criticized the possibility of a shutdown.
"Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and a veteran of Washington's budget battles, was concerned about the lack of a clear plan for resolving the dispute.
"There鈥檚 got to be a second part of the strategy," he said.
Norquist has been enthusiastic about Musk's ability to generate public attention for efforts to reduce the size of government. But he suggested that the owner of a space rocket company wasn't the right person to spearhead a congressional spending debate.
鈥淗e doesn鈥檛 know politics like he knows physics," he said.
But others were thrilled with Musk's involvement.
鈥淚n five years in Congress, I鈥檝e been awaiting a fundamental change in the dynamic,鈥� posted Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican from North Carolina. 鈥淚t has arrived.鈥�
Musk began criticizing the measure as soon as it was released Tuesday evening, and he continuously posted about it Wednesday.
"Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years!" he wrote. He also called it 鈥渙ne of the worst bills ever written.鈥�
Sometimes Musk amplified false claims, such as the idea that the legislation included $3 billion for a new football stadium in Washington. In reality, the legislation would transfer ownership of the land from the federal government to the city, paving the way for eventual development.
Musk appeared emboldened by the experience.
鈥淭he voice of the people was heard,鈥� Musk wrote. 鈥淭his was a good day for America."
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said the fallout would be Republicans' fault.
鈥淵ou break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences that follow," he wrote on X.
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Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
