Zanona on Republicans: There’s Unity with Being Annoyed at Elon Musk, But Not When It Comes to the Bill

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:
WELKER: “Welcome back. The panel is here. NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Melanie Zanona. Leann caldwell, chief Washington correspondent for puck. Symone Sanders townsend, former spokesperson for vice president Harris and co-host. And Republican strategist, Sara Fagen. Thanks to all of you for being here. This powerhouse panel that we have. President Trump told me on Saturday he told me his rift with Musk has unified Republicans for his so-called big beautiful bill. He said lawmakers are upset with the way Musk treated him. Is that your sense based on your conversation?”

ZINONA: “There’s certainly unity when it comes to them being annoyed with Elon Musk. I would not use unity when it comes to the bill. This bill was facing significant headwinds even before Musk weighed in. If it does fail it will not be because of Musk. If they do pass something maybe not by July 4th, that being said I think it’s a messaging problem for Republicans with this criticism. They empowered Elon Musk and made him the authority figure, and for them to dismiss his valid concerns about the deficit, I think that’s a problem and you have the Democrats eating this all up with popcorn.”