House Democrats expressed strong disapproval on Thursday following the breakdown of a bipartisan spending bill, attributing the failure to the perceived undue influence of figures like Elon Musk on President-elect Trump. They voiced their discontent with Republicans for abandoning the negotiated agreement, with several suggesting they were following Musk's lead.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) referred to the X owner as "President Musk," criticizing his involvement in the negotiations. "President Musk coming in at the last minute to disrupt the deal is unacceptable," Nadler stated. "Negotiations must be honored, and the agreement reached was beneficial for the American people."
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) expressed disappointment in House Speaker Johnson, implying Musk was acting as "president" and Trump as "vice president." Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) echoed this sentiment, questioning Musk's role and suggesting Speaker Johnson should "hand Elon Musk the gavel" if billionaires are to run the country.
House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) voiced her frustration with the stalled negotiations and changes to the debt ceiling agreement. She emphasized the real-world consequences of the dysfunction, highlighting the plight of her constituents awaiting disaster aid and Small Business Administration loans. She criticized Republicans for not replenishing these funds and leaving people "in the lurch."
Musk's team did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, in an interview with NBC News, Trump endorsed eliminating the debt ceiling as part of the spending package, a move he believes would be "the smartest thing" Congress could do. The national debt currently exceeds $36 trillion.
