Topline
Former President Donald Trump signaled his willingness to offer Elon Musk a role in his administration if he wins the presidential election in November, as the billionaire brought up his idea of creating a Government Efficiency Commission, as the two of them participated in a live chat on Musk’s X platform on Monday night that was marred by technical glitches.
Former President Donald Trump enthusiastically backed the idea of Musk joining a “Government … [+]
Key Facts
The conversation mostly focused on the recent assassination attempt against Trump and the former president’s complaints about immigration, while offering little details about Trump’s plans for a second term if he won.
One of the policy topics breached by Musk was his idea of creating a “Government Efficiency Commission,” which would ensure that “taxpayers money…is spent in a good way”—something the billionaire has spoken about previously.
Musk then said he would be “happy to help out on such a commission,” prompting an enthusiastic response from Trump, who said he’d “love it.
Trump then used the example of cuts made by Argentinian President Javier Milei, saying he “ran on MAGA and I hear he is doing really terrific.”
Trump then used the example of cuts made by Argentinian President Javier Milei, saying he “ran on MAGA and I hear he is doing really terrific.”
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Crucial Quote
After hailing Musk as the “greatest cutter,” Trump said: “You walk in, you just say: ‘You want to quit?’ They go on strike – I won’t mention the name of the company – but they go on strike. And you say: ‘That’s okay, you’re all gone.’”
News Peg
Musk had brought up this idea during an interview with podcast host Lex Fridman earlier this month. When Fridman said he wished Musk “could go into Washington for a week and be the head of the committee for making government smaller,” the billionaire said he has “discussed with Trump the idea of a government efficiency commission, and I would be willing to be part of that commission.” When asked how hard such an operation would be, Musk said “The antibody reaction would be very strong. You’re attacking the Matrix at that point. The Matrix will fight back.”
Further Reading
Musk-Trump X Interview: Trump Takes Friendly Questions From Musk After Glitch-Plagued Start (Forbes)
