GOP unfazed by Elon's antics

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GOP leaders in Congress appeared undeterred Wednesday as Elon Musk ramped up his criticism of President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" with a barrage of posts slamming the measure

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House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back on Musk's criticism Wednesday morning, telling reporters at his weekly press conference that "I think he's flat wrong."

The speaker told reporters later Wednesday that "we don't have time for a brand new bill."

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that Musk has "some influence," citing his social media following, but he downplayed the Tesla CEO's hold over Republicans in the upper chamber, saying that "at the end of the day, this is a 51-vote exercise here in the Senate. "I think we'll get there," Thune said.

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The Kansas Republican said Musk came up at the White House meeting for a "laughing conversation for 30 seconds" and that Mr. Trump is "absolutely not" concerned about his criticism.

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"He certainly doesn't have the same sway," Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, told CBS News of Musk.

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GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who previously represented Oklahoma in the House and has served as a messenger between the two chambers, told reporters "I don't know if it affects a lot."

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Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, voiced understanding for Musk's views on Wednesday. But she cast doubt on whether the criticism would sway her colleagues.

"I think that those of us who share concerns that there are inadequate reductions in the bill knew that before Elon Musk said that," Lummis said. "Those who disagree with him disagreed before he said that. So I don't think it changed any views in the Republican Party in the Senate."

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