A Growing Divide in Trump’s Second Term
In June 2025, President Donald Trump’s second term is marked by ambitious policies like the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a revived travel ban, and cultural shifts such as skipping Pride Month recognition. However, not everyone is on board. From Republican senators to former allies like Elon Musk, opposition is brewing, as highlighted by viral social media posts urging supporters to “pay close attention” to those not backing Trump. This article examines the key figures and groups distancing themselves from the president, based on recent news and sentiment on platforms like X, where users are calling out perceived “traitors” and “RINOs.”
The political landscape is tense, with Trump’s approval rating at 40% in April 2025, down from 47% in February, according to Pew Research. Economic concerns, like tariffs increasing prices, and controversial policies are fueling dissent, even among his base. Below, we break down the major players not fully supporting Trump as of June 6, 2025.
Republican Dissent: GOP Lawmakers Opposing Trump’s Agenda
While Trump enjoys strong support within the Republican Party, several GOP lawmakers are pushing back, particularly on the “Big Beautiful Bill,” a $5 trillion legislative package combining tax cuts, immigration reforms, and tariffs. Social media posts on X, such as one from @pr0ud_americans, label these lawmakers as “spineless RINOs” for allegedly undermining Trump’s vision.
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) has been vocal, calling the bill “completely unacceptable” due to its deficit impact, as reported by Fox News on June 5, 2025. Johnson’s fiscal conservatism puts him at odds with Trump’s spending plans, drawing ire from MAGA supporters.
[](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/)
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), known moderates, are expected to vote against the bill, opposing Medicaid work requirements and deep budget cuts, per @pr0ud_americans. Their resistance aligns with their history of breaking ranks on issues like healthcare and cultural policies, including Trump’s decision to forego Pride Month recognition, which you previously raised.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has expressed reservations about the bill’s fiscal irresponsibility, though his opposition is less firm, according to @AmericanPrestige.
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Other GOP Figures: An X post by @DonnaCu17173846 lists additional Republicans—Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul, John Thune, Thom Tillis, John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy, Mike Lawler, Thomas Massie, Warren Davidson, and Andy Harris—as opposing various Trump initiatives. Rand Paul, in particular, criticizes the bill’s deficit spending, per Fox News.
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The GOP dissent reflects a split between MAGA loyalists and fiscal or moderate conservatives, with some lawmakers wary of the bill’s economic fallout and others resisting Trump’s cultural agenda.
Elon Musk: A Former Ally Turns Critic
Elon Musk, once a cornerstone of Trump’s inner circle as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has emerged as a significant critic. On June 4, 2025, Musk called the “Big Beautiful Bill” a “disgusting abomination,” urging lawmakers to “KILL the BILL,” per The Washington Post and X posts like @MAGACult2. His exit from DOGE in May 2025, after overseeing controversial federal cuts, and his opposition to Jared Isaacman’s NASA nomination, influenced by internal rivalries like Sergio Gor, mark a clear rift, per CNN.
post:undefined[](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/04/trump-presidency-news/)[](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-presidency-news-06-01-25)
Musk’s shift, noted in your earlier question about his intelligence, has shocked MAGA supporters. X users like @CalmUpset compare him to other disillusioned Trump associates, such as Michael Cohen, suggesting a growing “support group” of defectors. Musk’s criticism stems from fiscal concerns and frustration with Trump’s legislative priorities, despite his past alignment with MAGA policies.
Why It Matters: Musk’s influence as a billionaire and public figure amplifies his dissent, potentially swaying public and GOP opinion against Trump’s agenda.
Democrats and Progressive Opposition
Democrats remain a unified front against Trump’s policies, from the travel ban to cultural decisions like skipping Pride Month, which you highlighted earlier. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has aligned with Musk in criticizing the “Big Beautiful Bill,” calling it a “disgusting abomination” and urging its defeat, per Fox News.
[](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/)
Senator Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats have condemned Trump’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies, including the Pride Month snub and transgender military ban, as exclusionary, per MSNBC. Advocacy groups like the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal, cited in Time, frame Trump’s agenda as tied to Project 2025’s conservative blueprint, rallying opposition.
web:undefined[](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/05/us/trump-news-travel-ban)
Travel Ban Critics: Democrats have also slammed Trump’s new travel ban on 12 countries, effective June 9, 2025, which targets African and Middle Eastern nations, per Reuters. Leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer argue it fuels xenophobia and harms diplomatic ties.
[](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/)
Democratic opposition is expected, but their alignment with figures like Musk on fiscal issues creates an unusual coalition against Trump’s legislative push.
Former Trump Administration Officials
Several figures from Trump’s first term are notably absent or critical in his second. Former Vice President Mike Pence has maintained distance since January 6, 2021, with X posts like @grok noting his lack of endorsement, per CNN.
post:undefined[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/04/trump-proclamation-travel-ban)
Olivia Troye, a former Pence aide, has publicly called Trump’s disavowal of Project 2025 “preposterous,” highlighting its architects’ ties to his administration, per The Guardian. Other former officials, like those from the pre-2025 cabinet, are largely silent, with only 4 of 44 supporting him in 2024, per @joni_askola.
[](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/04/trump-proclamation-travel-ban)
Project 2025 Contributors: While Trump has appointed Project 2025 figures like Russell Vought and Stephen Miller, some, like Paul Dans, prioritize broader conservative goals over absolute loyalty, per NPR, suggesting potential divergence.
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Corporate and Media Figures
Corporate Leaders: X posts, like @AadiAchint, suggest corporate America is pulling back due to Trump’s tariffs, which 75% of Americans believe will raise prices, per Pew Research. The New York Times reports businesses are challenging the tariffs legally, signaling economic discontent.
web:undefined[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/business/trump-tariffs-blocked-federal-court.html)
Conservative Pundits: Some conservative media voices, per @JaredRyanSears, are critical of Trump’s rushed legislative approach, particularly the “Big Beautiful Bill,” which some GOP members supported without reading, leading to public backlash. Outlets like the Wall Street Journal and New York Post have also questioned his tariff strategy, per @hissgoescobra.
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Public Sentiment and Polls
Public support for Trump is waning, with Pew Research reporting a 40% approval rating in April 2025, down from 47% in February. The LA Times notes sharp declines among Hispanics (27% from 36%), Black voters (14% from 19%), and Asian Americans (29% from 47%). Brookings attributes this to economic fears, like tariff-driven inflation and DOGE’s job cuts, which 59% view as “careless.”
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Non-enthusiastic Trump voters from 2024 show a 75% approval drop (from 88%), per Pew, indicating even his base is fracturing. X posts, like @SunWeatherMan, express disappointment, aligning with Musk and Representative Thomas Massie over Trump’s failure to deliver a bold agenda.
Context: Trump’s Controversial Policies Fueling Opposition
Travel Ban: Trump’s June 4, 2025, travel ban on 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Sudan, has drawn widespread criticism. Reuters reports it targets African and Middle Eastern nations, with partial restrictions on seven others, effective June 9. Critics, including Democrats and international leaders, call it xenophobic, while Venezuela labeled the Trump administration “supremacists,” per BBC.
[](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-signs-proclamation-banning-travel-12-countries-cbs-news-reports-2025-06-04/)[](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz6329yvwdvo)
Pride Month Decision: As you noted earlier, Trump’s decision not to recognize Pride Month has alienated moderates and progressives, with advocacy groups like Lambda Legal linking it to Project 2025’s anti-LGBTQ+ policies, per Time.
[](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/05/us/trump-news-travel-ban)
Tariffs and Economic Policy: The New York Times reports a U.S. trade court blocked Trump’s tariffs on May 28, 2025, for exceeding authority, a setback fueling corporate and GOP dissent. Musk’s criticism of tariffs aligns with public fears of price hikes, per Pew.
[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/business/trump-tariffs-blocked-federal-court.html)
Pardons and Commutations: Trump’s recent pardons, including for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover, have drawn criticism even from conservatives, with some X users like @hissgoescobra noting unease among GOP figures like Senator Chuck Grassley.
[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/us/politics/trump-pardons-hoover-grimm-chrisley.html)
Social Media Sentiment: The MAGA Perspective
X is ablaze with MAGA supporters calling out perceived betrayals. @Fatima_Khatun01 warns of “snakes” who backed DeSantis or Haley in the primaries and now oppose Trump, urging vigilance. @carolst62541812 praises loyalists like Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz but condemns “spineless” Republicans who didn’t stand by Trump during past controversies, reflecting a litmus test for loyalty.
The term “RINO” is rampant, with users like @pr0ud_americans accusing GOP dissenters of “selling out America’s future” for personal gain. This sentiment underscores a polarized GOP, where loyalty to Trump is paramount for his base.
Why the Opposition Matters
The opposition to Trump in June 2025 has significant implications. GOP dissent could derail the “Big Beautiful Bill,” requiring 60 Senate votes, per CNN. Musk’s public criticism, amplified by his 200 million X followers, risks swaying public opinion, especially among independents, who Pew notes are 42% supportive of Trump’s economic policies but wary of his cultural stance.
[](https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-presidency-news-06-01-25)
Democratic resistance, combined with advocacy groups, strengthens legal and public pushback against policies like the travel ban and anti-LGBTQ+ measures, with over 30 lawsuits pending, per CBS News. Waning public support, particularly among minorities and moderates, could weaken Trump’s leverage ahead of the 2026 midterms.
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Looking Ahead: The Road to 2026
As Trump navigates his second term, the opposition from within and outside his party will shape his legacy. The “Big Beautiful Bill” faces a critical Senate vote, with GOP moderates and fiscal conservatives like Johnson and Paul holding sway. Musk’s evolving role, whether as a vocal critic or occasional ally, will influence economic debates, especially on tariffs.
Democrats are gearing up for midterms, leveraging cultural issues like Pride Month and immigration to mobilize their base. Public sentiment, as seen on X, will continue to drive narratives, with MAGA supporters demanding loyalty and critics amplifying dissent. The Guardian’s Zoe Williams notes, “The wheels coming off doesn’t mean the bus is stopping,” suggesting Trump’s resilience despite setbacks.
[](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/29/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-tariffs)
Conclusion
In June 2025, President Trump faces opposition from GOP lawmakers like Ron Johnson, Susan Collins, and Rand Paul, who resist his “Big Beautiful Bill” and fiscal policies, as well as former allies like Elon Musk, who’s turned critical. Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, and advocacy groups oppose his cultural and immigration agendas, while public support wanes amid economic fears. Social media, particularly X, amplifies MAGA calls to “pay close attention” to these “traitors,” reflecting a polarized political climate. As Trump pushes forward, the balance of loyalty and dissent will define his second term and the path to the 2026 midterms.