AUSTIN, Texas — Elon Musk threw his influential support behind a bold 2011 proposal from Warren Buffett that would automatically bar all sitting members of Congress from seeking reelection if the federal deficit exceeds 3% of U.S. GDP, reigniting fierce debate over fiscal accountability as the national debt approaches $40 trillion.

Musk, responding on X to a resurfaced video clip shared by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, wrote simply: "100%. This is the way." The endorsement from the world's richest man has amplified calls for structural reform in Washington, where critics argue entrenched lawmakers face little personal consequence for unchecked spending.

Buffett's idea, first outlined in a 2011 CNBC interview, offers a blunt mechanism to fix what he called a solvable problem. "I could end the deficit in five minutes," the Berkshire Hathaway chairman said. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there's a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for reelection."

Proposal gains fresh traction

The clip, originally from more than a decade ago, went viral again in early June 2025 when Sen. Lee posted it and asked followers if they would support such an amendment. Musk's swift and unequivocal backing, along with interest from figures like Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and investor Ray Dalio, has propelled the concept back into national conversation amid record-high debt levels.

The U.S. national debt has ballooned past $39 trillion, with annual deficits routinely surpassing the 3% threshold in recent years. For context, the Congressional Budget Office projects persistent deficits well above that mark under........

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