Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin explained Wednesday why she believes tech billionaire Elon Musk could now actually “tank Donald Trump’s entire legislative agenda.”
Griffin, a co-host on ABC’s “The View,” warned that Musk’s vocal opposition to Trump’s so-called “big, beautiful” spending bill could sway Republicans in Congress, especially those worried about the consequences to their seats if they cross the world’s richest person.
Musk recently slammed the bill as a “disgusting abomination” for how it will hike the national debt. He had previously staked his reputation on slashing federal spending in his now-ended role running Trump’s unofficial Department of Government Efficiency. Trump, for now, has remained silent on Musk’s criticism.
Griffin, who served in the Trump administration during his first term, noted how the bill has measures on energy, border security and extends Trump’s tax cuts.
“If Republicans decide, ‘Oooh, we don’t want to get on the wrong side of Elon,’ that is what Donald Trump is banking it all on,” she continued. “And that is kind of devastating for his administration.”
“On the flip side, those Republicans, if you’re in a House district, you’re like, ‘I’m afraid of Donald Trump,’ but Elon Musk, because of the dark money system we live in, he can come in and primary you by just pouring millions and millions into your race.”
All Musk needs to do, she suggested, is “peel off a handful of Republicans” to tip the balance of power in the House.
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