Speaker Johnson on Musk: I Didn’t Craft a Piece of Legislation to Please the Richest Man in the World

RUSH EXCERPT:
KARL: “Okay. Let’s turn to the big story this week, the Elon Musk blowup. You had been texting him trying to get hold of him. Have you actually had a phone conversation with him since this happened yet?”

Johnson: “Not since Monday of last week. The president used the word disappointing. I think that’s right. We were disappointed and surprised. I’ve had a lot of great interaction and discussion with him about the big, beautiful bill to make sure he had accurate information because I was concerned people were telling him things that simply weren’t true. Elon’s number one responsibility is to save his company. The president and I have the responsibility of saving the country, and that’s what this bill does. We’re really excited and proud of this product, and we’re going to get it delivered.”

KARL: “What do you make of not even calling you, though?”

Johnson: “He has a lot going on, all right, and I do as well. We exchange text messages back and forth.”

KARL: “What did he say in those text messages?”

Johnson: “One of his chief concerns is about spending. I said, Elon, the spending categories are in two limited areas. One is border, which we promised the American people we would do, and it’s defense. He knows very well how important those investments are right now. Everything else in the bill is about historic savings and tax cuts for the people and ensuring American energy dominance by regulatory reform and maintaining peace through strength. Shoring up the safety net programs.”

KARL: “He’s not buying it. He’s not buying it. And he’s gone on X and he’s urged — these are texts — these are posts he has not deleted saying, kill the bill. Have you seen a reaction — he’s actually asked people to call their Congress members. Is that happening?”

Johnson: “It’s not happening.”

KARL: “He has 220 million followers.”

Johnson: “And I don’t think people are taking that directive. We have almost no calls to the offices, any Republican member of Congress. I think that indicates people are taking a wait-and-see attitude, some who may be convinced by some of his arguments, the rest understand this is an exciting piece of legislation. I’m going to say this, look, I didn’t go out to craft a piece of legislation to please the richest man in the world. What we’re trying to do is help hard-working Americans who are trying to provide for their families and make ends meet. Those are the people that are going to be excited about what this legislation produces. This is going to jet fuel the U.S. economy. All wages are going to rise. There will be more jobs and economic opportunity for more people.”