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Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Category: News
5 minutes ago
News
War

NATO Chief Admits Europe, Canada Must Equalize U.S. Defense Contribution.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged alliance members to increase defense spending, suggesting the current two percent GDP target is insufficient.

👥 Who’s Involved: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, British Defence Secretary John Healey, and former U.S. President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Press conference on Wednesday; NATO leaders to meet in The Hague later this month.

💬 Key Quote: “The expectation is that on the European side of NATO and the Canadian side of NATO, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the two percent, forget it.” – Mark Rutte.

⚠️ Impact: NATO nations may face increased pressure to raise their defense budgets, with potential calls for spending as high as five percent of GDP.

IN FULL:

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has called on alliance members to significantly increase defense spending, arguing that the current two percent GDP target is inadequate for maintaining security. Speaking at a press conference on June 4, Rutte emphasized the need for European NATO members and Canada to contribute more, aligning their efforts with the United States, which currently spends around 3.4 percent of its GDP on defense.

“The expectation is that on the European side of NATO and the Canadian side of NATO, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the two percent, forget it,” Rutte stated. He warned that sticking to the current target could leave member nations in “great difficulty” within the next three to five years.

The former Dutch prime minister is reportedly advocating for a new spending target of 3.5 percent of GDP on military expenditures, with an additional 1.5 percent allocated to defense-related measures. The issue is expected to be a central topic when NATO leaders convene in The Hague later this month, where a new “investment plan” will be discussed.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to raise British defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by April 2027, with a longer-term goal of reaching three percent in the next parliament, potentially extending to 2034. However, Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey are under scrutiny over how this target will be achieved.

Healey defended the United Kingdom’s contributions to NATO, citing recent investments. “We’ve published a defense review that has NATO at its heart,” he claimed, highlighting £4 billion allocated for drone technology and £1 billion for laser weapons development. He also noted the United Kingdom’s unique role in contributing to nuclear deterrence for the alliance.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his NATO representative, Matthew Whitaker, have previously called for alliance members to commit to a five percent GDP defense spending target. This push underscores ongoing debates about equitable burden-sharing within NATO, where the U.S. pulls the lion’s share of the military weight.

Trump has long advocated for NATO members to spend more on their militaries. However, few countries even meet prior spending commitments, let alone potential new ones that may be even higher.

Image via the Ukrainian Presidency.

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2 hours ago
Christopher Tomlinson
News
War

Trump Effect: Army Reaches Recruitment Goals Months Ahead of Schedule.

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❓What Happened: The U.S. Army has announced it has already achieved its 2025 recruitment goals, four months ahead of schedule.

👥 Who’s Involved: The U.S. Army, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald J. Trump.

📍 Where & When: Driscoll announced the recruitment numbers through an article in the Wall Street Journal on June 3.

💬 Key Quote: “From the White House and Congress to the Pentagon, our soldiers are a priority. This is only the beginning. As more Americans learn about the Army’s mission and legacy, I hope more will choose to serve.” — Army Secretary Driscoll.

⚠️ Impact: The reversal comes after plummeting recruitment numbers under the former Biden regime and proves Hegseth and President Trump’s stances to be popular among those who want to serve.

IN FULL:

The U.S. Army has announced it has already achieved its recruitment goals for 2025, four months ahead of expectations, noting that 61,000 new recruits have joined. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll made the announcement on June 3, making it the first time in over ten years that the Army had met its recruitment goal by the start of June.

“From the White House and Congress to the Pentagon, our soldiers are a priority. This is only the beginning. As more Americans learn about the Army’s mission and legacy, I hope more will choose to serve,” Driscoll said.

Under the prior Biden regime and former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Army struggled to recruit new troops, focusing instead on diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) policies. In 2022, the Army missed recruitment goals by 25 percent, while the Air Force missed recruitment goals in 2023 by 10 percent, the most in more than 20 years.

As early as April, however, recruitment was clearly surging under President Donald J. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, with all branches noting 100 percent or more of their recruitment goals achieved. “These recruiting numbers don’t surprise me… one bit. They’re a reflection of a yearning from the American public, of young people to be proud of their country,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth has focused on revitalizing the “warrior ethos” among the Armed Forces and has already moved to scrap DEI policies, restore fitness standards, and reenlist those who refused to take the COVID-19 vaccines under the Biden regime.

“Everything starts and ends with warriors, from training to the battlefield. We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more emergency vaccine mandates. No more dudes in dresses, we’re done with that shit,” Hegseth said.

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5 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
War

Trump: Putin Call Won’t Lead to Immediate Peace.

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❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin about recent attacks in Russia and Crimea, cautioning that peace in Ukraine is not imminent, while also discussing Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ukraine, Russia, and Iran.

📍 Where & When: A phone call lasting one hour and 15 minutes, announced by Trump on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.

💬Key Quote: “It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” Trump stated.

⚠️ Impact: Trump’s engagement with Putin signals his America First approach to global conflicts, addressing Ukraine and Iran while prioritizing U.S. security interests against nuclear proliferation.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has confirmed he has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a series of high-profile attacks in Russia and Russian-annexed Crimea in recent days, and that, based on their conversation, he does not see peace in Ukraine as imminent.

“I just finished speaking, by telephone, with President Vladimir Putin, of Russia. The call lasted approximately one hour and 15 minutes,” President Trump announced Wednesday.

“We discussed the attack on Russia’s docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” Trump cautioned, adding: “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

A recent Ukrainian raid on Russian Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft and strategic bombers may have resulted in significant damage to the air portion of Russia’s air, sea, and land-based triad of nuclear weaponry. However, there are conflicting reports as to how much of the Russian air fleet was destroyed. Technically speaking, Russian military doctrine regards attempts to destroy its nuclear armaments as grounds for a nuclear first response, although this would be an extreme reaction.

“We also discussed Iran, and the fact that time is running out on Iran’s decision pertaining to nuclear weapons, which must be made quickly!” Trump continued. “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement.”

“President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion. It is my opinion that Iran has been slowwalking their decision on this very important matter, and we will need a definitive answer in a very short period of time!”

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7 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
Media
UK

Jon Stewart Promotes Discredited Brexit Conspiracy Theorist and Her New ‘Girl Power’ Blog.

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❓What Happened: Jon Stewart hosted Carole Cadwalladr on The Daily Show, where she fearmongered about a “techno-authoritarian surveillance state” while promoting her Substack and nonprofit, while glossing over her history of discredited, Russiagate-style anti-Brexit conspiracy theories.

👥 Who’s Involved: Jon Stewart, Carole Cadwalladr, and Brexit campaign organizer and donor Arron Banks.

📍 Where & When: The Daily Show, with the interview airing on June 3, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “There should be no reward for knowingly lying in journalism. In fact, quite the opposite. There should be harsh and punitive measures to discourage activists masquerading as reporters and leading the public astray, especially at their financial cost.” — The National Pulse Editor-in-Chief Raheem Kassam, after Cadwalladr lost a defamation case over her Brexit allegations in 2023.

⚠️ Impact: Stewart’s uncritical platforming of Cadwalladr amplifies her discredited narrative, undermining tech reforms while glossing over her established history of peddling anti-Brexit misinformation.

IN FULL:

On June 3, 2025, Jon Stewart hosted British journalist Carole Cadwalladr on The Daily Show, giving her a platform to warn of a “techno-authoritarian surveillance state” driven by tech firms. Stewart helped Cadwalladr promote her Substack, “How to Survive the Broligarchy,” and her nonprofit, The Citizens—but failed to address Cadwalladr’s history of discredited anti-Brexit conspiracy theories.

Stewart briefly referenced a defamation lawsuit brought against Cadwalladr by Arron Banks, an ally of Nigel Farage and key organizer and donor for the Leave.EU campaign during the 2016 Brexit referendum, over a 2019 TED Talk, and a social media post implying ties to Russia.

“They really tried to destroy you,” Stewart said of the case—failing to mention the courts ruled comprehensively in Banks’s favor. Cadwalladr had falsely alleged Kremlin involvement in and even illicit Russian funding of Banks’s Leave.EU campaign, swaying the Brexit vote through dark money. As with similar Russia-based conspiracies levelled against President Donald J. Trump, Cadwalladr earned journalistic accolades such as the Specialist Journalist of the Year 2017 award and an Orwell Prize for Political Journalism, lending credence to her outlandish reporting, only for it to crumble under legal scrutiny.

Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) found no evidence of Russian money or collusion. In 2022, the High Court ruled her false statements caused “serious harm” to Banks’s reputation, ordering her to pay £1.24 million (~$1.7m) in costs and £35,000 (~$47,500) in damages.

“There should be no reward for knowingly lying in journalism. In fact, quite the opposite. There should be harsh and punitive measures to discourage activists masquerading as reporters and leading the public astray, especially at their financial cost,” commented Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, following the ruling.

During the Stewart interview, Cadwalladr shifted focus to modern data practices, criticizing the lack of artificial intelligence (AI) regulation in the U.S., noting a proposed ten-year ban on state-level regulation of the technology in the “one big beautiful bill.” However, the purpose of this provision is not to prevent AI regulation, but to prevent far-left California, where many tech firms are based, from having de facto control over AI regulation nationwide and even worldwide.

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8 hours ago
NatSec
News

Trump Shifting Greenland to Military Command Tasked with Homeland Defense.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: The Trump administration plans to shift Greenland from U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command, which is tasked with homeland defense, signaling President Donald J. Trump’s intention to acquire the Danish territory.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, U.S. military officials, and Greenland’s population.

💬 Key Quote: “We have to have Greenland,” President Trump stated during Vice President Vance’s visit to the island earlier this year.

⚠️ Impact: The move underscores Greenland’s strategic importance to U.S. national security and ambition to bring it under U.S. control.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to reassign Greenland from the U.S. European Command to the U.S. Northern Command, a move seen as emphasizing both its role in homeland defense and President Donald J. Trump’s ambition to acquire it. The U.S. Northern Command oversees defense operations for the continental United States, Alaska, and neighboring nations such as Canada and Mexico.

U.S. officials say the change reflects a strategic shift in viewing Greenland as critical to American security. Acquiring Greenland, currently under the Kingdom of Denmark, has been a focal point for the Trump administration.

During a March visit to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base, Vice President J.D. Vance criticized Denmark for inadequate investment in the island’s infrastructure and security. The base, equipped with missile detection systems, is considered vital to U.S. defense interests.

President Donald J. Trump has maintained his interest in acquiring Greenland due to its value for national security and its rare earth mineral resources. During Vance’s March visit, Trump remarked, “We have to have Greenland.” In a speech to Congress, Trump pledged significant development opportunities for Greenland, stating, “We will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before.”

Greenland lies at the entrance to the Northwest Passage, which passes through the northern islands of Canada. It could become a major strategic searoute if temperatures rise in the northern hemisphere.

Image by NordForsk/Terje Heiestad.

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9 hours ago
News

Homan Warns Biden’s Border Influx Means Decade-Long National Security Threat.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: President Donald J. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, blasted the former Biden government’s open borders policies for jeopardizing U.S. national security by allowing dangerous illegal immigrants into the country. Homan contends Biden’s importation of millions of illegal immigrants makes incidents like the recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, more challenging to prevent.

👥 Who’s Involved: Tom Homan, Mohamed Sabry Soliman (Egyptian national and illegal immigrant), the former Biden government, and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).

📍 Where & When: Homan’s remarks were made during a media appearance following the terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, on June 1, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “What concerned me the most was they created the biggest national security vulnerability this country has ever seen,” said Homan, referring to the Biden government’s lack of border security enforcement.

⚠️ Impact: Homan warned of ongoing threats for the next decade due to Biden-era border policies, including terrorism risks and other criminal activities.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump‘s border czar, Tom Homan, has warned that the former Biden government’s open borders policies have created a significant national security threat, citing the recent anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado. Speaking with Sean Hannity following the Boulder attack, Homan expressed concerns over the danger posed by “two million known gotaways” who crossed the U.S. border under Biden, warning, “We don’t know who they are, where they came from, or where they are.”

Homan pointed to the attack in Boulder, where Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national and illegal immigrant who overstayed his tourist visa and was subsequently given a work permit by the Biden government, injured multiple people at a pro-Israel event using Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower. Soliman, who reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” during the attack, had planned a mass shooting but was unable to acquire a firearm. Two individuals were hospitalized with severe burns.

Homan criticized Biden and the Democratic Party for allowing unvetted migrants into the country and granting them work permits, claiming such policies enable bad actors to “sit here and plan something bad.” He warned that the U.S. would face the consequences of these decisions for the next decade.

The former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief also took aim at congressional Democrats for protesting at detention centers, mentioning an incident involving Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who was charged with assaulting law enforcement at a New Jersey facility. Homan described these actions as part of a broader attack on ICE and the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Homan emphasized the broader implications of Biden’s failed border policies and the monumental task of undoing the damage, pointing to issues such as sex trafficking, fentanyl smuggling, and terrorism. “This is the biggest national security vulnerability this country has ever seen,” he warned.

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11 hours ago
Culture
News

Trump White House Will Not Issue ‘Pride’ Proclamation.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced there are no plans for a “Pride Month” proclamation under President Donald J. Trump.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and the Department of Education.

📍 Where & When: White House press briefing, June 3, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,” said Leavitt, adding Trump is “proud to be a President for all Americans regardless of race, religion, or creed.”

⚠️ Impact: The Trump administration is shifting focus away from LGBT-centric policies to initiatives such as recognizing Title IX’s anniversary and addressing gender ideology in federal policy.

IN FULL:

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that President Donald J. Trump’s administration has no plans to issue a “Pride Month” proclamation this June, marking a significant departure from his predecessor’s approach to LGBT-related celebrations.

“There are no plans for a proclamation for the month of June,” Leavitt stated during a press briefing, emphasizing that President Trump is “proud to be a president for all Americans regardless of race, religion, or creed.”

The announcement coincides with the Department of Education’s decision to designate June as “Title IX Month,” commemorating the 53rd anniversary of the landmark legislation prohibiting sex-based education discrimination.

This approach contrasts sharply with the policies of former President Joe Biden, who issued annual “Pride Month” proclamations and hosted high-profile LGBT events at the White House. Notably, a 2023 Pride event under Biden drew criticism after transgender activist Rose Montoya, a man claiming to be a woman, appeared topless in a video on the White House lawn. Biden also signed an executive order in 2022 to expand access to gender-transition procedures for adults and minors.

Since taking office, Trump has focused on rolling back “radical” gender ideology. In an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” the White House stated that erasing sex in language and policy undermines trust in government and societal stability.

The Trump administration has prioritized protecting children from irreversible gender procedures and ensuring fairness in women’s sports by barring biological males from competing. This marks a sharp pivot from the policies of the previous administration, reinforcing Trump’s commitment to “biological truth.”

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22 hours ago
Immigration

Air Force Cadet Candidate Slain by Illegal Immigrant Receives Military Honors.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: An 18-year-old Air Force cadet candidate, Ava Moore, was killed by a jet ski allegedly being driven recklessly by an illegal immigrant.

👥 Who’s Involved: Ava Moore, Daikerlyn Alejandraa Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Maikel Coello Perozo, and U.S. Air Force Academy officials.

📍 Where & When: Lake Grapevine, Texas, over Memorial Day weekend; funeral held Saturday.

💬 Key Quote: “We lost an exemplary teammate this weekend—Cadet Candidate Ava Moore, whose passion for leadership and service left an impact on everyone she met,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, U.S. Air Force Academy Superintendent.

⚠️ Impact: Moore’s death has sparked outrage, with law enforcement highlighting the immigration status of the suspects. Both suspects face criminal charges and deportation proceedings.

IN FULL:

An 18-year-old Air Force cadet candidate, Ava Moore, was honored with full military funeral rites on Saturday after her tragic killing in a jet ski collision allegedly caused by an illegal immigrant. Moore, who had recently graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School and was set to join the Academy’s Class of 2029, died while kayaking on Lake Grapevine in Texas over Memorial Day weekend.

The U.S. Air Force Academy confirmed Moore was laid to rest with military honors, including the playing of Taps, flag folding, and flag presentation to her family. According to the Academy’s Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Moore’s leadership and dedication left a lasting impression on her peers. “Ava’s constant happiness and attitude helped her squadron get through the challenges of the Prep School, and her drive to excel was on display as she sought out leadership positions to improve herself and her team,” he said.

Authorities arrested two Venezuelan nationals in connection with the incident. Daikerlyn Alejandraa Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 22, who is accused of operating the jet ski that struck Moore, faces a second-degree manslaughter charge. Maikel Coello Perozo, 21, allegedly assisted Gonzalez-Gonzalez in fleeing the scene and faces charges for hindering apprehension and a vehicle collision. Both suspects reportedly had packed suitcases when apprehended by law enforcement.

Gonzalez-Gonzalez is being held in Tarrant County Jail on a $500,000 bond, while Perozo’s bail is set at $3,250. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed detainers on both migrants.

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23 hours ago
2A
News

Donald Trump Jr. Launching ‘Amazon of Guns’ to Strengthen the Second Amendment.

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❓What Happened: Donald Trump Jr. is launching an online firearm store called GrabAGun, aiming to make firearms more accessible and fill gaps left by corporate policy changes.

👥 Who’s Involved: Donald Trump Jr., investor Omeed Malik, GrabAGun CEO Marc Nemat, and attorney Colion Noir.

📍 Where & When: Announced on June 3, 2025, with plans to go public soon.

💬 Key Quote: “This is giving [the public] an opportunity with ‘grab a gun,’ to shop the way they shop virtually everything else.” — Donald Trump Jr.

⚠️ Impact: The platform seeks to restore access to firearms and accessories, offering a streamlined online shopping experience while adhering to federal regulations.

IN FULL:

Donald Trump Jr. has announced the upcoming launch of an online firearm retailer, GrabAGun, which he and his partners have described as the “Amazon of guns.” The platform aims to provide a streamlined shopping experience for firearms and accessories while adhering to federal safety regulations.

Speaking to the media on June 3, Trump Jr. explained the motivation behind the venture, highlighting a growing demand for firearms among groups not traditionally associated with gun ownership. “There’s women coming into the marketplace for self-defense,” he said. “There’s a younger generation that’s shifting to the conservative side that understands the need to exercise their Second Amendment.”

GrabAGun will allow customers to purchase firearms online, though federal law requires the weapons to be picked up from authorized and licensed dealers, where standard background checks will be conducted. However, accessories such as scopes and ammunition can be shipped directly to consumers’ homes.

Trump Jr., an avid marksman and hunter, emphasized the venture’s role in filling a void created by changing corporate policies. “Walmart used to be the largest retailer of firearms in America. Corporate policies change, you can no longer have that access,” he noted. “This is covering that void.”

The company has already announced a merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) led by investor Omeed Malik, who has previously backed conservative ventures including Tucker Carlson‘s media startup and the “anti-woke” online marketplace Public Square. Malik described the GrabAGun platform as a way for Americans to “buy guns and ammunition online just like you can on Amazon because we have a Second Amendment right.”

The website offers a wide range of products, including rifles, shotguns, small arms, ammunition, and outdoor equipment such as tents and camping gear. Trump Jr. will join the company’s board when it goes public, alongside gun influencer and attorney Colion Noir.

Additionally, Trump Jr. and Malik announced plans for a new social club in Washington, D.C., named the Executive Branch, which will cater to the city’s elite with a $500,000 membership fee.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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24 hours ago
News

Elon Musk Turns on Trump Over the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Elon Musk publicly criticized President Donald J. Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, calling it a “disgusting abomination.”

👤Who’s Involved: Elon Musk, President Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senator Rand Paul, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senator Chuck Schumer.

🧾Key Quote: “Shame on those who voted for it,” Musk wrote on X.

⚠️Fallout: The rebuke could signal an impending rift between Musk, who recently departed the administration, seemingly on good terms, and President Trump.

📌Significance: Musk’s break with the Trump administration is his most direct since leaving government service at the end of May.

IN FULL:

Elon Musk lashed out at President Trump’s landmark tax and spending legislation on Tuesday, calling the bill a “disgusting abomination” and accusing lawmakers of saddling Americans with unsustainable debt.

Musk’s remarks came just days after his departure from the Trump administration, where he had served as the frontman for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative aimed at cutting government waste, with mixed results.

In posts on his X platform, Musk said the bill would raise the deficit to $2.5 trillion and was filled with “outrageous” pork-barrel provisions. “Shame on those who voted for it,” he wrote.

The bill, passed by the House in May, would extend Trump’s first-term tax cuts, cut taxes on tips, overtime, and social security, boost border security and defense spending, and raise the debt ceiling to $4 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated it would increase the deficit by at least $600 billion in the coming fiscal year.

President Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, responded to Musk’s criticism by saying the America First leader “already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill.”

Members of the administration, such as Stephen Miller, have explained to Musk that substantial cuts cannot be achieved in the “one big beautiful bill” because it is a reconciliation bill. Under the law, the reconciliation process can only impact discretionary spending. Most federal agency budgets, which Musk’s DOGE cuts impact, are considered nondiscretionary spending, and must be dealt with separately.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he spoke with Musk about the bill for 20 minutes earlier this week and noted that its phasing out of certain tax credits may affect Musk’s Tesla company. “I just deeply regret he’s made this mistake,” Johnson said.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has said he won’t support the measure if it includes raising the debt ceiling. “The GOP will own the debt once they vote for this,” Paul said.

So far, Trump has held fire against Musk, who is also avoiding attacking Trump directly, instead stressing that the bill is “Congressional.” However, Trump has fired back against Rand Paul on social media, arguing he has “very little understanding of the bill” and that “the people of Kentucky can’t stand him.”

Despite the friction, Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled the GOP would “proceed full speed ahead.” The administration has set a July 4 deadline to pass the legislation.

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