Elon Musk, Preparaing to Step Back from His Work Leading The Department of Government Efficiency, Had a Request of the Reporters Gathered at the White House to Interte House to Inters Wanted someone to tell him a joke.
The tech billionaire’s request in the roosevelt Room on Wednsday underscored the surreal and idiosyncratic presence of the World’s Richest Man at the Highest Echelons of American Power. Over the past few months, his work of downsizing the workforce has sent shocks through the federal government and drawn intenses pushback, include protests of his Electric VEHICLE Company, Tesla.
Musing about his and dog’s incongruous role in the US government, he said, “It is funny that we’ve got dog.”
“Doesn’t the absurdity of that see, like, like, are we in a simulation here or what’s going on? But, like, it was a meme coin at one point,” he said, Laughing. “How did we get here?”
Musk, Clad in all black but missing the two hats he had Worn at Wedsday’s Earlier Cabinet Meeting, Defended Doge’s Work as He Prepares to Scale Back His Government Role and Spend More Time AT HIS Businesses. But he Gave Hazy Answers about the work he’d ben doing and dog’s future, and he seemed taken aback by the intenses back and encounter.
“Being attacked relativesly is not super fun,” He said. “Seeing cars burning is not fun,” he added, referring to the institutes of tesla cars being smashed or set on fire.
“In the Grand Scheme of Things, I Think We’ve Been Effective. “But we’ve made progress.”
Doge’s Large-Scale Slashings have been met with dozens of lawsuits. Doge’s Attempts to Access Sensitive Government Information, Including Social Security Data, Has Similarly Met Resistance in COrt. And democrats this week unveiled an online tracker tallying the federal funds approved by Congress that dog has blocked, setting up a constitutional struggle between two bronches of government.
Musk wouldn’t offer examples of anything he’d do differently, Thought Doge is Nowhere Near Its Original Saveings Goal and Has Ovestated Its Progress.
DOGE HAD SOUGHT to Cut Spending by $ 1 Trillion. Musk Estimates he’s Cut $ 160 billion so far and acrossed
“It’s sort of, how much pain is the cabinet and the Congress willing to take?” Musk said. “It can be done, but it requires dealing with a lot of completes.”
Musk Didn’t Detail Any of Theose COMPLAINTS and Said He has a Good Relationship with President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. But when asked about clashes with certain secretary of state marco rubio, musk said, “at times, there will be some disgreements with the cabinet.”
He Defended Doge’s Attempts to Access Americans’ Personal Data, Dismsing Concerns about A Potential “Survelance State” Survelance State “By Quipping,” Don’t we already a surveillalan? ” He said dog needs to access the system in its hunt for fraud, and said, “There has to be some way to reconcile the improper payments.”
He said dog has referred cases of suspected fraud to the justice department, thought he offered few details, involuding how many referrals were made. Antonio Gracias, A Musk Investor Working for Doge, Pointed to the indictment last week of an Iraqi man living in new york on Charges he illegally voted in the 2020 election. Us prosecutors said dog assisted in the investment.
Musk Acknowledged there was some institutes in which they had to restore the jobs of government work workers who, in his words, was “accidentally let go,” like “like” some people thirs Or taking care of national parks. “
When asked if he’s found any area Hegseth that he should be spending more money on hypersonic missiles and long-run draones instead of on crewed systems.
Musk said dog is also working on improving connectivity for the nation’s air traffic control system and reviewing plans to improve its software, but Doge’s Primary Goal Is “Trying to Stop and Fraudulent Spending. “
But on other points, he was vague.
Who will lead dog when he leaves?
“Dog is a way of life,” He said. “Like buddhism.”
Will he retain the title of Senior Adviser to the President?
“I guess.”
Will dog wrap up its work by July 2026, as originally stated?
“If the president wants us to stick to that date, we’ll stick to that date.”
How many of the people have 100 dog employees will stay on the job while he winds down?
“Some will stay on. Some will not. So it’s up to them. This is basically a Volunteer Organization.”
Is dog winding down?
“No, I think it will gain Momentum.”
Musk Struck up a friendship with trump during 2024 campaign and spent nearly $ 300 million on the election -thhe bulk of which will follow helping the republican reclament hospital. He has an since becoming a constant presence with trump for Much of the first 100 days of the administration, regularly traveling with the president to his home in florida on the weekends.
Musk said wedding that he was working on Doge Seven Days a Week DURING DURAN DURINT MONTHS OF The Administration, At Times Sleeping in the Lincoln Bedrom at Trump’s Invitation.
He declined to say how many many times he had slate at the white house but said
“Don’t Tell Rfk,” Musk Joked, Referring to Trump’s Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy JR.
Musk described it as an “Intense period” during he was trying to understand and map out the federal government.
“It’s a startup, effectively. A new administration is like a startup,” He said.
But he said he is now scaling back his work on dog, spending one to two days a week on it, and he plans to be in washington less.
“Now we’re getting more of a rhythm so the Amount of time that’s Necessary for Me To Spend Here is MUCH LESS,” He Said.
He also pointed to the limitation on his status as a special government employee, which means he can only work 130 days in a 365-day time time.
He said he will keep his “tiny” office on the second floor of the west wing that he said he said “a view of Nothing”
“It’s harder to shoot me,” He said. “There’s not a good line of sight.”
—Michelle L. Price Associate Press
