Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, made headlines on NBC News Sunday by declaring he would not accept campaign contributions from billionaire Elon Musk. Instead, he urged Musk to take a more active role in opposing a controversial spending bill backed by former President Donald Trump.

During an interview with "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker, Booker emphasized the importance of collaboration across party lines. He stated, "I will partner with anyone like I did in the last Congress, putting my vote alongside of John McCain’s, Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins to stop the tearing down of the Affordable Care Act. This is not about right or left. It’s about right or wrong. And this bill is disastrous for the average American, driving up this cost."

Booker continued, "This bill is disastrous for our long-term economy. This is an American issue, and I welcome Elon Musk, not to my campaign, I welcome him right now, not to sit back and fire off tweets, to get involved right now in a more substantive way, in putting pressure on Congresspeople and senators to not do this."

When pressed again about accepting Musk's financial support, Booker reiterated, "I would not accept money from Elon Musk for my campaign, but I would be supportive of anybody, including Elon Musk, putting resources forward right now to let more Americans know, sound the alarm."

Musk has publicly criticized the Trump-backed spending bill, labeling it a "disgusting abomination" on social media. He described the legislation as a "massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill" and expressed disappointment in those who voted for it.

The spending bill, which has been a point of contention, passed the House last month after extensive negotiations. While Trump has praised the measure, Senate Republicans have indicated they plan to make significant amendments before it reaches a vote in the upper chamber.

In the same interview, Welker inquired about the state of the Democratic Party, referencing former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's recent decision to register as an Independent. Booker responded, "I think the Democrats right now all across America should be less concerned about the Democratic Party and more concerned with the American people. There’s a trust problem for Republicans and Democrats. Most Americans voted against both of the presidential candidates in the last election. We need to start standing up and show we’re fighting for Americans right now."

As the political landscape evolves, Booker also mentioned he would endorse the winner of the Democratic gubernatorial primary in New Jersey. The upcoming election is expected to be a critical moment for the party as it navigates internal challenges and public sentiment.