A war of words between President Donald Trump and Stacey Abrams erupted on Tuesday night as Trump used his congressional address to accuse the Georgia Democrat of being at the center of a staggering $1.9 billion taxpayer scandal.
But Abrams was quick to fire back in a pointed rebuke, invoking none other than DOGE chief Elon Musk in her defense.
Speaking before a joint session of Congress, Trump painted Abrams as the architect of a shadowy spending spree.
‘The Department of Government Efficiency has found some very questionable spending… $1.9 billion to the so-called ‘Decarbonization of Homes Committee’ – and guess who’s involved? Stacey Abrams! Have you ever heard of her?’ Trump sneered, sending murmurs rippling through the chamber.
The attack was a clear attempt to cast Abrams as a reckless steward of taxpayer funds, accusing her of funneling billions into murky environmental projects with little accountability.
But the president offered no supporting evidence, leaving the specifics of the alleged financial debacle hanging in the air.
Writing on social media, Abrams wasted no time in turning the tables on Trump.
Taking to X she clapped back at Trump writing, ‘I’m proud of my work protecting civil rights & lowering energy costs for Georgians. Someone has to deliver — because Trump is taking our hard-earned money to cut Elon Musk’s taxes.’
A war of words between President Donald Trump and Stacey Abrams erupted on Tuesday night
Trump used his congressional address to accuse the Georgia Democrat of being at the center of a staggering $1.9 billion taxpayer scandal
Abrams was quick to fired back in a pointed rebuke, invoking none other than DOGE chief Elon Musk in her defense
Trump’s accusation is the latest chapter in a growing Republican-led effort to place Abrams under scrutiny.
A Georgia state Senate committee, backed by Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, is already eyeing Abrams for alleged improprieties tied to her 2018 gubernatorial campaign and clean-energy initiatives.
A potential subpoena for Abrams, tying her to a separate $2 billion federal grant awarded to Power Forward Communities – a coalition that, while not directly linked to Abrams, included Rewiring America, an organization she was affiliated with until December.
‘Don’t you think that, that deserves looking into, because I do,’ Jones told reporters on Friday, after a resolution to allow the expansion was introduced in the Senate.
The claims, largely fueled by Trump-appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, have sparked GOP calls for a probe, despite no public evidence directly implicating Abrams in any wrongdoing.
Abrams, long considered a political force in Georgia, sees the attacks as nothing more than an attempt to dismantle her influence.
‘Georgia Republicans are so terrified of the power of the people, they’re lashing out with unfounded attacks and baseless investigations that waste taxpayer dollars,’ she fired back in a statement last week.
‘Working across the state, I registered and turned out thousands of Georgians. I proudly led work to lower energy prices in the poorest region of the state.’
White House Senior Advisor to the President Elon Musk cheers as President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Tuesday night in Washington, DC
Adams was involved with a group promoting clean energy. It is just one of Abrams’ roles, which include writing books and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures
Senate Republicans claim they are simply following the money and question how federal and state funds were allocated under initiatives linked to Abrams.
Abrams, the former state House minority leader, vaulted to national Democratic stardom when she came close to defeating Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2018.
She parlayed voting rights after that election into a national platform and even consideration as Joe Biden’s running mate in 2020, but lost a 2022 governor’s race rematch to Kemp by a broader margin.
Her involvement with Rewiring America, a group promoting clean energy and electrification, is just one of Abrams’ roles, which include writing books and pursuing entrepreneurial ventures.
If the resolution is approved, it will allow the Republican-led Senate to conduct meetings scrutinizing a second high-profile Democrat as Jones and several members of the committee consider running for office in 2026.
The Republican-led Senate committee is now gearing up to expand its probe into Abrams, and subpoenas could be issued after the legislative session adjourns on April 4.
Abrams, the former state House minority leader, vaulted to national Democratic stardom when she came close to defeating Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2018
Adams came close to defeating Republican Governor Brian Kemp in 2018 but lost by an even broader margin in 2022
Abrams’ allies are dismissing the entire spectacle as political theater, accusing Trump and his allies of using Abrams as a convenient distraction.
‘Once again, we’re going to be wasting time, wasting Georgia taxpayers´ money,’ said Senate Democratic Minority Leader Harold Jones II of Augusta.
Abrams has not publicly ruled out a third bid for governor in 2026. However, her party may be moving on from her – other Democrats are already laying the groundwork to run next year.
Abrams founded the New Georgia Project in 2013 to register more nonwhite and young voters in Georgia and to urge them to turn out. She stepped down in 2017 and said she had no role with the group thereafter.
In January, the New Georgia Project and its affiliated New Georgia Project Action Fund admitted Georgia’s campaign finance law by failing to register as an independent campaign committee and failing to disclose contributions and spending.
The Ethics Commission fined the groups $300,000, the largest ethics fine in state history, mostly for violations that supported Abrams’ 2018 run for governor.
On February 12, the Trump-appointed Zeldin called for the return of $2 billion granted to Power Forward Communities in April 2024, part of $20 billion that Zeldin claimed was improperly granted by former President Joe Biden’s administration.
The claims, largely fueled by Trump-appointed EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, pictured, have sparked GOP calls for a probe, despite no public evidence directly implicating Abrams
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican, spoke to reporters about plans for a state Senate committee to investigate Democrat Stacey Abrams on Friday at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta
Power Forward Communities, which includes United Way Worldwide and Habitat for Humanity, says it plans to use the money to help fund energy efficiency upgrades in low-income households, trying to bring down costs by paying appliance makers and contractors many upgrades at once.
Abrams was senior counsel to Rewiring America until December, said her spokesperson, Joshua Karp. That’s one of the groups that make up the Power Forward Communities coalition.
Abrams was not paid by Power Forward Communities, Karp said.
Senate Republicans are also launching investigations into multiple high-profile Democrats, including Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis who charged Trump in 2023 with conspiring to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss to Joe Biden in Georgia.
