Some Republicans are starting to grow frustrated with Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, accusing the two of causing trouble within the party by interfering in a critical spending bill. Their actions, many say, are based on poor judgment and a lack of understanding of the larger political picture.
Earlier this week, took to social media to call for a government shutdown. He criticized a bipartisan deal designed to keep the federal government running as a “big piece of pork”, and demanded that “no bill shall pass before January 20th.”
He also issued a warning to any Republican who supported the deal, writing, “Any member of the House or Senate who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years.”
This move has drawn backlash from several rank-and-file Republicans, who believe Musk’s intervention is damaging the party’s ability to move forward in Congress.
Fox News reporter Liz Elkind shared that there’s a lot of frustration among Republicans in the House of Representatives. Some lawmakers are particularly upset with Musk and Ramaswamy for publicly sabotaging the deal. One Republican was quoted saying, “I’ll have nothing to do with them after watching them trash the Speaker.” Another described their actions as “free-lancing and shooting off the hip”—a criticism suggesting that they acted without consulting party leaders or fully understanding the consequences.
But the frustration doesn’t stop with Musk and Ramaswamy. Some Republicans are also upset with former President Donald Trump for supporting their stance. One unnamed House Republican voiced concern, saying, “Trump doesn’t understand Congress. He wants all GOP wins and no concessions to Democrats, but the Senate and White House are still controlled by Democrats. He’s not living in reality.”
Musk has argued that the government should shut down until Trump is inaugurated for his second term on January 20. Trump, while open to a shutdown, has tried to shift the blame for it to President Joe Biden, hoping to use it as a political strategy.
The growing frustration highlights a widening divide within the Republican Party. Some rank-and-file members are starting to question whether Musk and Ramaswamy are truly helping—or harming—their efforts to navigate the tricky political landscape in Washington. With the stakes so high, the tension within the GOP seems unlikely to ease anytime soon.
