Musk Highlights His Role as Humble Tech Support During Trump's Cabinet Meeting

Elon Musk took centre stage at President Donald Trump's initial Cabinet meeting of the new term. Wearing a black "Make America Great Again" hat, Musk discussed his role as "humble tech support" for the government. He warned that without his cost-cutting measures, the country might face bankruptcy. "If we don't do this, America will go bankrupt," Musk stated to the department heads gathered in the Cabinet Room.

Trump seemed content to let Musk lead the meeting, praising his efforts to uncover inefficiencies within the government. "He's sacrificing a lot," Trump remarked, acknowledging the time Musk is dedicating away from his businesses. "He's also getting hit." Musk's rapid initiatives to streamline government operations have led to death threats, he noted humorously, tapping on his head and expressing hope to save USD 1 trillion from the federal budget.

Government Efficiency and Challenges

Musk defended his recent move requiring government employees to justify their work weekly under threat of termination. This action faced criticism over national security and privacy concerns. Musk described it as a "pulse check" to ensure employees are active and capable. He joked that some workers might be non-existent or deceased, aiming to confirm they are real and can send an email.

When asked about Cabinet members' satisfaction with Musk's work, Trump interjected before Musk could respond. Trump joked about dismissing any dissenters, which was met with applause from the Cabinet. Returning focus to Musk, he praised Trump's Cabinet as "the best ever," adding, "And I don't give false praise."

Efforts and Mistakes

Musk admitted that mistakes would occur in his mission to cut government spending. He mentioned an accidental brief cancellation of Ebola prevention funding while reducing the U.S. Agency for International Development's size. However, he insisted services were uninterrupted before funds were restored. A USAID official later clarified that no Ebola response funds had been released since Trump's foreign aid freeze on January 20.

After approximately 15 minutes focused on Musk and DOGE, Trump redirected attention to his achievements during his first weeks in office. The Cabinet mostly listened silently for over an hour as Trump invited questions from reporters present at the meeting.

When questioned about expecting unwavering compliance from his Cabinet, Trump initially dismissed the inquiry but then affirmed, "of course, no exceptions." The meeting highlighted both Musk's ambitious plans and Trump's early administration accomplishments.