CNN —

When Elon Musk declared Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s signature legislation was a “disgusting abomination,” it caught the West Wing by surprise and sent Republican leaders in Congress scrambling, unsuccessfully, to get Musk on the phone.

A day later, both GOP leaders and White House officials are downplaying the actual impact of the tech billionaire’s outburst, even as some vent frustration with Musk behind the scenes. White House officials, while annoyed by the matter, said they ultimately did not believe the comments would impact how senators vote on Trump’s prized bill. Two administration officials even went as far as suggesting Musk’s opposition could actually help Trump’s measure, given how toxic the Tesla CEO has become over the course of his time in Trump’s orbit.

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