Speaker Mike Johnson has a huge new headache as he races to prevent the holiday government shutdown — and his name is Elon Musk.
The tech scion and mega-ally of newly elected President Donald Trump took to his social platform – including a raise for lawmakers – calling it “criminal,” “unconscionable” and a “crime against the American people.”
It started at 4:15 a.m. ET, when Musk posted on X: “This bill should not be passed.”
And he hasn’t let up since, repeatedly urging his nearly 208 million followers to call on their representatives to “Stop Stealing Your Tax Money!” and threatening that “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out of office within two years!”
That’s a problem for Johnson — himself an ally of Republicans and Trump who could face a hammer fight in January — who must pass the bill Friday evening to avoid a government shutdown at the height of the holidays.
And it’s an early loyalty test pioneered by Musk, who under Trump will lead a “Department of Government Efficiency” aimed at cutting costs across the federal government.
“Any member who claims to support the @DOGE should not support this ‘CR of inefficiency’ that has no offsets!!” said Rep. Ralph Norman (RS.C), in a message Musk reposted. “Don’t get weak in the knees before we even get started!”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who found himself in hot water in the Trump world earlier this month for her shaky support for Pentagon President-elect Pete Hegseth, ripped the bill, saying on X: “Congress deserves a lump of coal for failing to do his job and putting special interests over taxpayers,” emphasizing “We need @DOGE to cut the pork and #makeemsqueal!”
And Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said on X, “So many members of Congress want the power to work with @DOGE and @ElonMusk.”
Musk’s pleas – and threats – appear to be working.
“I think it’s having an effect on some people,” said Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), a staunch Trump ally and Freedom Caucus agitator.
When asked if Musk’s post stirred votes, Biggs replied: “I think it probably did.”
A slew of conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives said Wednesday they opposed the bill — as did Trump and newly elected Vice President J.D. Vance, who said in a joint statement on X Wednesday afternoon: “We must pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t Chuck Schumer and the Democrats anything they want.”
Earlier Wednesday afternoon, Johnson’s leadership team tried to come up with a Plan B, a “clean” financing package that would cut $100 billion in disaster aid and other attachments, POLITICO reported.
But that doesn’t mean the speaker is safe. Johnson “has got to go,” Trump ally Steve Bannon said on Wednesday.
“President Trump will support him until he doesn’t support him anymore,” he added.
Spokespeople for Musk, X and his America PAC did not respond to questions.
Jordan Carney contributed to this report.
