Topline
In a recent interview, Elon Musk reflected on his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative aimed at reducing federal spending. Musk, who both proposed the idea and later took a leadership role, described the project as only “somewhat successful” and expressed that it is not a venture he would pursue again.
During the discussion, Musk emphasized the limited success of the initiative, highlighting his efforts to cut funding for programs he believed were unnecessary. Without delving into specifics, he estimated that around 2-3% of government expenditures were misallocated, adding that rectifying such issues is challenging.
Katie Miller, the interviewer and spouse of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, inquired whether Musk would embark on the DOGE project if given another chance. Musk was clear in his response: “No, I don’t think so,” he said candidly.
Reflecting on his time with the initiative, Musk suggested he would have preferred to focus on his companies instead. He referenced the vandalism of Tesla vehicles earlier in the year, implying that his involvement with the government may have diverted his attention from important business matters.
Musk also shared an interesting tidbit about the project’s name. He revealed that DOGE was not his first choice; it was conceived from online suggestions. Originally, he had intended to name the agency the Government Efficiency Commission.
“Instead of doing DOGE, I would have…worked at my companies…and they wouldn’t have been burning the cars,” referring to the vandalism of Tesla cars earlier this year as he started working with the Trump administration.
Musk also pointed out that DOGE was a “made-up name…based on internet suggestions,” and he initially wanted to call the agency the Government Efficiency Commission.
What Else Did Musk Discuss On Katie Miller’s Podcast?
Musk was asked if his time in Washington, D.C. had left him disillusioned, to which he said: “I wouldn’t say I was super illusioned to begin with, I mean, I guess it’s just like you really want the least amount done by government possible.” The billionaire then pushed unsubstantiated claims about immigrants being paid to enter the U.S. in “vast numbers” and being “fast-tracked to citizenship.” Musk then claimed without any evidence that these immigrants were “beholden to government payments and voting hard left.” Musk then claimed New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., were voted into their positions by “a majority of people” who were not born in America. “We just don’t want to turn into a…communist hell hole basically,” he added.
