Leading Republicans have dismissed worries that the feud between DONALD TRUMP and ELON MUSK could jeopardize TRUMP’s meaningful tax legislation, as the party unites behind the US president.

The conflict between the two men escalated dramatically on thursday, stemming from disagreements over the president’s “big stunning bill,” leading to concerns that the legislation could be in danger.

However, prominent Republicans have shown their support for the president, asserting that the tech entrepreneur has limited influence to sway lawmakers away from TRUMP.

“I’ll tell you what, do not doubt and do not second-guess and don’t ever challenge the president of the united States,” MIKE JOHNSON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, cautioned on Friday.

This week, MUSK intensified his criticism of the bill, labeling it a “revolting abomination” before directly attacking TRUMP. He called for TRUMP’s impeachment, threatened to create a rival political party, and implied connections to JEFFREY EPSTEIN, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.

Associates of both TRUMP and MUSK have encouraged them to mend their relationship, fearing a growing divide within the Republican party and a breakdown in relations between Washington and Silicon Valley.

The immediate concern among some Republicans was that the feud would undermine TRUMP’s crucial bill.

“This has been like an aeroplane going through severe turbulence, with Musk unleashing all of his issues with the bill,” said RON BONJEAN, a Republican strategist. “However, it’s still flying. It’s still moving through the air,” he added. “And it’s likely going to continue on the course that’s been projected.”

The legislation,which extends tax cuts introduced by the president in 2017 while reducing social programs,has already faced controversy. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that it could increase the US debt by $2.4tn.

MUSK stated this week that the “outrageous, pork-filled” bill would “massively increase the already gigantic budget deficit.” TRUMP countered that the billionaire was simply upset that the legislation eliminated tax incentives for electric vehicles.

The bill narrowly passed in the House of Representatives last month but faces challenges in the Senate, where fiscal conservatives have expressed concerns about its cost.

THOMAS MASSIE, a Kentucky Republican, commented after the dispute that the bill was “on life support” and advocated for its cancellation.

“If the Senate thinks they’re going to rehabilitate it and rewrite it, I think they’re endangering this patient,” said MASSIE.

However, party officials indicated that there was little desire among lawmakers to oppose the president.

“The drama might increase,and the process might slow down,” said KEN SPAIN,a Republican strategist. “But ultimately Congressional Republicans will take their cues from Trump and for the president, failure is not an option.”

Some suggested that the conflict might ultimately aid the bill’s passage by making senators hesitant to align themselves with the billionaire Tesla owner.

“Musk is actually pretty unpopular among most of the members of the Senate, and frankly, most of the members of the administration. The only one who really liked him was Trump,” said JOHN FEEHERY, another Republican strategist.

“The sum of this is that this is going to make it easier for the Republicans to pass BBB, rather than harder. Because people rally to Trump and they’re not going to want to be seen on the same side as Elon Musk.”

TRUMP has instructed Congress to approve the bill and send it to him for signing into law by July 4, a timeline that some party officials admitted was enterprising.

CLAYTON ALLEN, US director at the Eurasia Group consultancy, stated that it was “unlikely that the spat will impact the timing of passage.” He estimated the likelihood of the legislation passing by TRUMP’s July 4 deadline at 70 per cent, and 80 per cent by Congress’s August recess.

One lobbyist, closely involved with congressional staff on the legislation, dismissed the MUSK-TRUMP disagreement as a “sideshow.”

“Some of the bigger differences between the House and Senate bills will still have to be hammered out, but those are member to member conversations,” the lobbyist said.

“Once they’re all close to an agreement, the only person who can play closer is the president.”