Finance Minister Scott Bessent Calls Elon Musk a "Loser" and Urges Him to Quit Politics

• Why Did Scott Bessent Call Elon Musk a "Loser"?
• The Trump-Musk Feud Over the $3.9 Trillion Deficit Bomb
• From Boardrooms to Body Checks: The Physical Escalation
• America Party: Musk’s Disruptive Political Gambit
• Corporate Fallout: Will Musk’s Companies Suffer?
• Historical Parallels: When Tech Titans Clash With Government
• What’s Next for Musk’s Political Aspirations?
• FAQ: Your Questions Answered

In a fiery televised statement, U.S. Finance Minister Scott Bessent slammed Elon Musk as a "loser" unfit for political leadership, urging the billionaire to focus on running Tesla and SpaceX instead. The clash stems from Musk's newly filed "America Party" and his feud with TRUMP over the controversial "One Big Beautiful Bill." Meanwhile, tensions escalate with threats of subsidy cuts and even deportation rumors. Here’s the full breakdown of this high-stakes corporate-political drama.

Why Did Scott Bessent Call Elon Musk a "Loser"?

During a CNN interview, Bessent didn’t mince words: "Most of America thinks he’s a loser," citing Musk’s dismal poll numbers and lack of national political support. The criticism came hours after Musk filed paperwork for his "America Party" with the Federal Election Commission. Bessent argued that Musk’s strengths lie in business, not policy-making, pointing to Tesla’s recent stock dip and SpaceX’s contractual disputes as evidence. "His board wants him back in the CEO chair, not playing politician," Bessent added, referencing unnamed Tesla directors. The finance chief also mocked Musk’s reference to ancient Greek military tactics when describing his party’s strategy, quipping: "Epaminondas didn’t have to deal with SEC filings."

The Trump-Musk Feud Over the $3.9 Trillion Deficit Bomb

At the heart of the rift is the "One Big Beautiful Bill" signed by Trump last Friday. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget projects it’ll blow a $3.9 trillion hole in the national debt over the next decade. Musk—whose now-defunct DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) team had worked on fiscal reforms—called the bill "a mockery of responsible governance." Trump retaliated by floating cuts to federal subsidies for Musk’s companies, while Bessent provocatively suggested reviewing Musk’s citizenship status (despite Musk being a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2002). "This isn’t about subsidies," Musk fired back on X, "It’s about mortgaging our grandchildren’s future."

From Boardrooms to Body Checks: The Physical Escalation

According to MAGA podcaster Steve Bannon, tensions turned physical after an April meeting when Musk allegedly "body-checked" Bessent—a claim neither party has denied. The animosity traces back to Trump passing over Musk’s preferred Treasury pick (Cantor Fitzgerald’s Howard Lutnick) in favor of Bessent. Since then, the finance minister has become Musk’s chief antagonist, even comparing him to "a spoiled child who didn’t get his way" during a Fox Business segment. For his part, Musk has limited his public attacks to Bessent, carefully avoiding direct criticism of Trump—a strategic MOVE analysts attribute to preserving SpaceX’s government contracts.

America Party: Musk’s Disruptive Political Gambit

Musk’s third-party movement aims to target specific House and Senate races in 2024 using what he calls "precision battlefield tactics." Inspired by Epaminondas’ victory at Leuctra, the plan involves concentrating resources on flipping key districts rather than mounting a nationwide campaign. Early polling shows the party could siphon more Republican than Democratic votes, potentially aiding Biden’s reelection—an irony given Musk’s recent rightward shift. The billionaire hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll run for office himself but has vowed to "break the uniparty system." His X followers overwhelmingly endorsed the idea in a pre-launch poll, though critics note such surveys skew toward his tech-savvy base.

Corporate Fallout: Will Musk’s Companies Suffer?

Investors are growing restless as Musk divides his attention between political ventures and his $200 billion corporate empire. Tesla shares dipped 2.3% following Bessent’s comments, while SpaceX faces renewed scrutiny over its $15 billion in federal contracts. "There’s only so much bandwidth even for Elon," noted BTCC market analyst David Lin. "Every hour spent on politics is an hour not spent solving Cybertruck production hell." The WHITE House hasn’t confirmed subsidy cuts but has quietly advanced competing EV initiatives with Ford and GM—a move seen as diminishing Tesla’s dominance.

Historical Parallels: When Tech Titans Clash With Government

This isn’t the first Silicon Valley vs. D.C. showdown. In 1998, Microsoft’s Bill Gates faced antitrust lawsuits after tangling with the DOJ. More recently, Mark Zuckerberg’s political ambitions via FWD.us faced bipartisan resistance. What makes Musk’s case unique is his simultaneous reliance on government contracts (SpaceX’s $2.9 billion NASA deal) and defiance of federal policies. "He’s trying to disrupt politics like he did with cars and rockets," observes Harvard Business School’s Debora Spar. "But political systems have antibodies against outsiders."

What’s Next for Musk’s Political Aspirations?

The America Party’s first test will come in November’s Senate races, where Musk plans to back centrist candidates in Arizona and Ohio. Legal experts question whether the party can gain ballot access in time, given varying state deadlines. Meanwhile, Trump’s camp is reportedly drafting executive orders to reduce clean energy subsidies—a direct blow to Tesla. Musk’s response? A cryptic tweet: "The harder they push, the more concentrated the force becomes." One thing’s certain: this battle between the world’s richest man and the U.S. financial establishment is just heating up.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

What exactly did Scott Bessent say about Elon Musk?

Bessent called Musk "a loser" during a live CNN interview, stating most Americans don’t support his political ambitions and that Tesla/ SpaceX boards want him focused on business.

Why is Musk angry about the "One Big Beautiful Bill"?

The legislation is projected to increase U.S. debt by $3.9 trillion over 10 years, undermining Musk’s past work on government efficiency reforms through his Doge initiative.

Has Musk really been threatened with deportation?

While Bessent floated reviewing Musk’s citizenship, legal experts say deporting a naturalized citizen without due process is virtually impossible under current law.

How serious is the America Party?

It’s officially filed with the FEC and will initially target select 2024 races, but lacks infrastructure or candidates. Musk calls it a "precision strike" against two-party dominance.

Could this hurt Tesla and SpaceX?

Potentially. Tesla stock dipped post-controversy, and SpaceX’s government contracts may face scrutiny. However, both companies have weathered Musk’s controversies before.