On a recent episode of The View, the co-hosts discussed Elon Musk’s criticisms of Donald Trump’s budget plan, referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The conversation kicked off with Whoopi Goldberg, who playfully coined a new nickname for Trump, “Taco D,” and shared Musk’s scathing remarks about the bill. Musk has publicly derided the bill as an “outrageous, disgusting abomination,” also expressing a desire to hold accountable the politicians who he feels have betrayed the American people.
During the segment, the hosts highlighted Musk’s significant influence, noting that he commands respect among Trump’s base, which could create tensions within the Republican Party. Joy Behar remarked that Musk’s standing could adversely affect Trump politically. Sara Haines contributed to the discussion by suggesting that Musk’s critique stems from the undoing of his spending cuts in the new legislation, which she views as indicative of a larger rift between populist and traditional conservative factions within the party.
Sunny Hostin expressed her disapproval of Musk’s previous decisions when he led efforts to cut government spending, arguing that those decisions had dire consequences. Alyssa Farah Griffin added insight into the fiscal priorities of politicians, pointing out that addressing the deficit has not been a recent focus for politicians and that significant cuts or tax increases are necessary for real change.
Griffin predicted that Musk’s influence might threaten Trump’s legislative efforts, mentioning the potential backlash Republicans could face from aligning too closely with Musk against their constituents. The thoughtful debate concluded with Goldberg and Behar agreeing that Trump should be wary of Musk’s capabilities and knowledge, especially regarding the intersection of politics and finance.
The lively discussion reveals the complex dynamics at play within the Republican Party and the potential for shifting alliances influenced by high-profile figures like Musk. With ongoing conversations about fiscal responsibility and partisan divisions, it will be interesting to see how these relationships evolve in the future.