In a highly anticipated interview aired on Fox News Channel on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk defended their aggressive cost-cutting initiatives aimed at reshaping federal spending. The conversation, marked by mutual admiration, addressed concerns regarding Musk’s role in government restructuring and potential conflicts of interest due to his business ventures.
Musk, who has been entrusted with overseeing the cost-cutting drive through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stated that he would continue working with Trump “as long as he can be helpful.” The interview sought to clarify Musk’s position in the administration, as well as address skepticism over his influence on policies that may impact industries in which he has vested interests.
Elon Musk’s role in Donald Trump’s administration: How long will it last
A key topic of discussion was the extent of Musk’s involvement in government restructuring. While Musk has been playing a prominent role in implementing spending cuts, the White House maintains that he is not an official employee and has no direct decision-making authority. When asked whether he intended to work with Trump for the entire four-year term, Musk responded:
“I’ll be as helpful as long as I can be helpful.”
Trump’s administration has prioritized reducing federal spending since his return to office last month, placing Musk at the forefront of these efforts. The billionaire, who is also a major Trump donor, has leveraged broad powers granted to him by the administration to reform and consolidate federal agencies.
Elon Musk’s government role sparks conflict of interest debate
Musk’s involvement in federal restructuring has led to criticism over possible conflicts of interest. Many of the agencies subject to budget cuts and restructuring have regulatory oversight over his companies, including SpaceX, Tesla, and The Boring Company. Critics have questioned whether Musk’s role in the government could benefit his businesses, raising ethical concerns.
However, Trump dismissed such claims, stating that Musk would not allow conflicts of interest to interfere with his responsibilities.
“If there’s any conflict, he will stop it. But if he didn’t, I’d stop it. I’d see if there’s a conflict,” Trump assured during the interview.
Musk reinforced this stance, emphasising that his actions are under intense scrutiny:
“The possibility of me getting away with something is zero percent. I’m scrutinized to a ridiculous degree,” he said.
DOGE transparency and public accountability
Elon Musk claimed that DOGE is committed to transparency, with its actions being documented on a public website. This, he argued, would ensure that any potential conflicts are immediately identified and addressed. Trump supported this statement, asserting that Musk is operating under “a pretty big microscope,” implying that any questionable decisions would be swiftly exposed by the media and government watchdogs.
Donald Trump calls Elon Musk a ‘Patriot’
During the interview, Trump praised Musk’s business acumen and leadership, referring to him as “brilliant,” “honest,” and a “very good, solid businessman.”
At a separate press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump further described Musk as a “patriot.” He commented on Musk’s role within the administration, saying:
“You could call him an employee, you can call him a consultant. You can call him whatever you want. But he’s a patriot.”
Musk-Trump relationship built on mutual admiration
Throughout the interview, Trump and Musk exchanged praise, highlighting their strong working relationship. At one point, Musk openly expressed his support for Trump, saying:
“I love the president, I just want to be clear about that.”
Fox News host Sean Hannity, who conducted the interview, remarked on the close relationship between the two, stating:
“I feel like I’m interviewing two brothers here.”
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