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In a dramatic shift, congressional Republicans have begun openly criticizing Elon Musk following his contentious remarks about former President Trump. Musk, known for his influence within the GOP, recently alleged that Trump is "in the Epstein files" and went as far as to call for his impeachment.

This marks a remarkable change in Musk's standing within Republican circles, where he previously wielded considerable sway. Just weeks ago, Musk leveraged his influence to shape GOP policy stances, but his recent comments have strained these ties significantly.

The immediate catalyst for this discord was Musk's critique of the GOP's latest tax and spending cut legislation. On Tuesday, Musk argued that the proposal does not sufficiently address the deficit, initially focusing his criticism on economic policy before turning to more personal attacks on Trump.

"Support for President Trump has been overwhelming," stated Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), a member of the House GOP leadership. He mentioned that his office has been inundated with calls backing Trump.

For some time, Musk's staggering $420 billion net worth has loomed over Republican lawmakers, given his capability to funnel millions into any Republican primary. This financial clout has been likened to a Sword of Damocles, perpetually hanging over the heads of GOP politicians.

One House Republican, speaking anonymously, confessed, "I would rather have Trump on my side," acknowledging the broader electoral implications of this feud.

Even those who have criticized Trump's comprehensive legislative proposal, colloquially referred to as "One Big, Beautiful Bill," argue that Musk's personal assaults are detracting from substantive policy discussions. Nonetheless, there are still a few Republicans willing to praise Musk, despite the risk of alienating Trump and his supporters.

Ultimately, Republicans are starting to recognize that this rift was perhaps inevitable, given the strong personalities involved.