WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending proposal has taken its first major step forward in the U.S. Senate, passing a key procedural vote late Saturday. The controversial legislation, however, drew sharp criticism from billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who warned it would “destroy millions of jobs” and inflict “immense strategic harm” on the nation.

Calling the proposal “utterly insane and destructive,” Musk accused lawmakers of favoring outdated industries with subsidies while neglecting future-oriented sectors crucial to American innovation and competitiveness.

Despite the pushback, the Senate voted 51–49 to advance the 940-page megabill, clearing the way for formal debate. The package includes extensions of Trump’s signature 2017 tax cuts, new tax reductions, and significant increases in military and border security funding—priorities Trump has championed as central to his agenda.

The procedural vote was delayed for hours due to internal Republican disagreements. Senators Thom Tillis, Ron Johnson, and Rand Paul initially sided with Democrats to oppose the motion. Meanwhile, Senators Rick Scott, Mike Lee, and Cynthia Lummis held last-minute negotiations with GOP leadership in pursuit of deeper spending cuts.

In a dramatic shift, Senator Johnson of Wisconsin switched his vote to support the measure, narrowing Republican dissent to just two senators—Tillis and Paul.

According to a senior White House official, President Trump closely followed the developments from the Oval Office late into the night.

While Republicans hailed the bill as a bold step toward economic growth and national security, Democrats blasted it as a giveaway to the wealthy. They argued that the tax cuts would disproportionately benefit high-income earners while slashing resources from critical social programs relied on by lower- and middle-income Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led Democratic resistance, demanding the full bill be read aloud on the Senate floor before debate began. “If Senate Republicans won’t tell the American people what’s in this radical bill, we will make sure they hear every word,” said Schumer, criticizing GOP efforts to rush the legislation through with limited transparency.

Nonpartisan budget analysts warn that the proposed legislation could add trillions of dollars to the already ballooning $36.2 trillion U.S. national debt if enacted in its current form.

The Senate is now set to begin debating the bill in earnest, with Republicans aiming for a final vote in the coming days.