Tech magnate Elon Musk has ignited a political firestorm after labeling President Donald Trump’s signature tax proposal — the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” a “disgusting abomination.” His rebuke found an unlikely ally in Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), a leading member of the House Freedom Caucus, who echoed Musk’s criticism on social media despite having voted in favor of the bill.
“So @elonmusk is right to call out House Leadership,” Perry wrote Tuesday evening on Musk’s platform, X.. “I wish I had a nickel for every time the @freedomcaucus sounded the alarm and nobody listened, only to find out the hard way we were right all along. We expect MASSIVE improvements from the Senate before it gets back to the House.”
But Perry’s sudden change of tone did not go unnoticed. Within hours, he became the target of widespread ridicule, with critics highlighting that every single member of the Freedom Caucus, including Perry himself, voted for the bill’s passage in the House.
“The HFC sounded the alarm about this bill indeed. And then not a single Freedom Caucus member voted no on the bill. Not one,” posted Washington Post reporter Paul Kane. “This guy is calling out a bill that he voted for. And saying that he ‘sounded the alarm’ on it,” wrote Alexandria city councilman R. Kirk McPike. “Totally spineless.”
Congressional reporter Jamie Dupree also weighed in: “Everyone knew the Freedom Caucus was going to fold in the House. They could refuse to support the final Senate version of President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill — but not many people on Capitol Hill really think they have the guts to do that.”
Critics didn’t hold back, mocking Perry’s contradictory stance. “Scott Perry voted for the tax bill he’s now crying about,” noted hedge fund founder Spencer Hakimian. “He thought I wouldn’t catch him. But I am the media now. And nothing gets past me. Point and laugh at this clown with me!”
“In which Scott Perry agrees that he voted for … checks notes … what Elon calls a ‘massive, outrageous, pork-filled, disgusting abomination,’” wrote Eli Cousin of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Political strategist Paul Jacobs added, “Scott Perry’s internal polling must be terrible if he’s now throwing shade on the budget bill. By the way, the media should never call this albatross a ‘big beautiful bill.’
It’s an ugly POS and @RepScottPerry is finally figuring out he chose Trump over his constituents.” As the Senate prepares to revise the legislation, pressure mounts on lawmakers to clarify where they really stand.