US President Donald Trump has hailed billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk for his role in reducing government spending, calling him a “big cost-cutter” in a recent interview.
Musk, who serves as co-commissioner of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been instrumental in trimming the federal budget. His appointment followed his vocal support for Trump in the latter months of the election campaign.
Alongside entrepreneur and former Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy, Musk was brought in to help restructure federal agencies and cut excess government spending.
Announcing Musk’s appointment, Trump stated that DOGE’s mission is to “dismantle government bureaucracy… cut wasteful expenditures” and implement an “entrepreneurial approach to government.”
“Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government Bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies – Essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump declared.
In a Fox News interview aired on Sunday, February 2, Trump reiterated Musk’s contributions, saying, “I think Elon is doing a good job. He’s a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won’t agree with him, in not going where he wants to go, but he is doing a great job… he’s a smart guy… he’s very much into cutting the budget of our federal government.”
Musk’s involvement in the administration signals a shift toward a business-driven approach to government reform, with efficiency and cost-cutting at the forefront of the agenda.