Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has a message for Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk: stop. The Vermont Independent accused Musk of amassing enormous wealth since President Donald Trump took office, alleging the trillionaire wants the GOP to retain control of Congress.

'Stop Oligarchy,' Says Bernie Sanders

“Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. It paid off,” Sanders said in a post on X on Monday, following a New York Times report released the same day that said Musk donated $276 million to Republicans via his Super PAC (Political Action Committee) since July.

“Since his [Trump] election, Musk got $696 billion richer & became the world’s 1st trillionaire,” Sanders said. The wealth wasn't “enough,” he added, saying the Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) CEO was “spending $366 million to keep Republicans in control of Congress.”

“STOP MUSK. STOP OLIGARCHY,” the Senator said. The Times report notes that since Trump was re-elected to a second term, Musk has donated $366 million in total, with $90 million spent prior to the $276 million figure from July 2026.

Elon Musk spent $290 million to elect Trump. It paid off.

Since his election, Musk got $696 billion richer & became the world’s 1st trillionaire.

But that’s not enough.

Now, Musk is spending $366 million to keep Republicans in control of Congress.

STOP MUSK. STOP OLIGARCHY.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) October 12, 2026

SpaceX, Tesla Under Trump

SpaceX has secured billions of dollars in contracts since Trump took office, including a $1.6 billion contract with the U.S. Space Force in July and a $946 million contract with NASA through 2030 in September.

While SpaceX keeps winning contracts, the Trump administration's rollback of federal EV incentives has created a headwind for the broader U.S. EV market, Tesla included. On the other side of the ledger, the Department of Transportation's (DOT) moves to cut red tape for self-driving technology could boost Musk's Robotaxi and autonomous driving ambitions.

Elon Musk Defends Against Trillionaire Criticism

Following SpaceX's recent rally, Musk reached trillionaire status again. Sanders had criticized the milestone, and Musk defended himself earlier this month, saying his fortune was tied to SpaceX and Tesla and that the companies were valuable because they were building products beneficial for people.

“The takers of the world who have never built anything, like Bernie, do as they always do and take from the makers,” Musk said, criticizing Sanders.

Related Stocks: SPCX, TSLA