'That is just BS': Heated debate erupts between GOP and Dem strategists on CNN
John Berman David Urban and Meghan Hays on Elon Musk relationship with President Trump (CNN Screenshot) 2025-06-04

CNN Political commentator, Republican Strategist, and former Trump campaign advisor David Urban railed against Elon Musk’s recent social media post questioning President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill.”

“Big and beautiful or a disgusting abomination?” Anchor John Berman asked. “As of now, it seems that Elon Musk might be sleeping because it's been at least 4.5 hours since he attacked the president's huge tax and spending plan.”

Berman showed Musk’s first tweet slamming the bill, which said, “I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination.” Musk added, “Shame on those who voted for it. You know you did wrong. You know it.”

Berman asked Urban, “President Trump has said zip about this on Truth Social, or anywhere else. He famously likes to say he's a counterpuncher. Why is he so timid here when it comes to Elon Musk?”

“I don't know if he's timid,” Urban said. “I'm just looking at that video wondering if [Trump] would have given [Musk] the key [to the White House], if he had known that tweet was coming.”

Urban also said that Musk, along with Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) "really do believe that the deficit and our national debt are existential threats to America and to the dollar as a reserve currency.”

Berman then pressed Urban on Musk's relationship with Trump. “Is this a case where the president has an opponent?” the anchor asked.

“I'd say the only the only person whose megaphone is as large as Donald Trump's is Elon Musk's.” Urban added, “So it does have an extra weight.”

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Berman then asked Democratic Strategist Megan Hayes, if “Elon Musk [is a] democratic hero?”

“I mean, I don't know if we'd go to hero, but everyone's got an angle, right?” Hayes said.

“I am here for anybody who wants to call B-S- on this bill that's cutting 14 million people off of health insurance and 18 million kids off of food assistance programs. So if he wants to do that and help Democrats out, that's totally fine. But I think Elon Musk has more of an angle here than being a deficit hawk.”

“I disagree,” Urban interjected, “I'd push back on that. Look, how much money did Elon Musk lose while he was at DOGE?”

The former Trump campaign advisor added, “So if Meghan and all the detractors say, ‘oh, it's all about the EVs, that's what Elon is doing it.’ That's just that's just B-S- I mean, he lost more money by being, you know, a DOGE deficit, you know, trying to cut spending in the government than he'd ever do [losing] this EV tax credit.”

“Except he got all those contracts for other things at SpaceX and of his different companies,” Hayes interjected

“Come on, Meghan,” Urban said. “If it's not Elon, come on, give me a break. He's the only guy capable of doing it.”

Shortly after that exchange, Berman asked Urban if the spending bill is going to pass.

Urban said, “I think [the spending bill is] going to pass, whether it passes before the 4th of July. I'm a little bit suspicious about that. Little sus on that.” Urban added, "I think there'll be an exit date given sometime right before the August recess.”

Watch the full interaction below or click here.

- YouTubeyoutu.be