Elon Musk has warned that the United States will go “bankrupt” without drastic budget cuts, as he leads the charge to slash federal spending under President Donald Trump‘s administration.
The software businessman made the point that reducing government spending is not just an alternative but a necessity while speaking at the White House on Tuesday alongside Trump.
” It’s not optional”, Musk told reporters. ” It’s essential”.
Musk, who has been tasked with overseeing cost-cutting efforts through the newly established Department of Government Efficiency ( DOGE ), criticised federal bureaucracy, calling it an “unelected, unconstitutional branch of government” that holds more power than elected representatives. His comment came as Trump signed an executive order mandating that all national authorities follow DOGE’s instructions.
The program aims to reduce the size of the national labor, a move Musk has clearly advocated. Governmental agencies will only be able to hire one employee for every four employees who leave under the new law. Expand must also be consulted by company heads before filling openings.
Musk pointed to the government’s budget deficit, which reached$ 1.8 trillion next time, and warned about rising interest payments on federal loan. Trump echoed Musk’s issues, saying they were “going to plant out the problem”.
The tycoon, who likewise heads Tesla and SpaceX, dismissed worries over potential conflicts of interest, stating that his part in government is focused on clarity and performance. However, critics argue that Musk’s firms, which have secured billions in state deals, raise ethical concerns about his role in cost-cutting choices.
Not just for his remarks but also for his outfit, Musk’s appearance at the White House sparked online discussion. He wore a black cover with the slogan” Make America Great Once” and a complete dark outfit, which is reminiscent of what he wore at a Republican rally in Pennsylvania last year before Trump’s victory.
The cost-cutting methods, nevertheless, have ignited legal battles. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the government’s broad budget cuts, with critics calling them an illegitimate power get. The president has criticized the court after federal courts have questioned the constitutionality of Trump’s orders, claiming that some judges are attempting to thwart his attempts to “root out problem.”
However, Musk’s four-year-old boy, X Æ A-Xii, made a surprise look at the White House. The child gently roamed the Oval Office, climbed onto Musk’s arms, and mimicked his parents, drawing chuckles from writers. Trump acknowledged the child, calling him” a great man” and a “high IQ individual”.
