Elon Musk denies 'hostile takeover' of government in surprise White House appearance

Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of companies like Tesla and SpaceX, made an unexpected visit to the White House on Tuesday, where he stood alongside President Donald Trump. During this surprise appearance, Musk addressed reporters and denied any intentions of leading a 'hostile takeover' of the US government. Instead, he defended his plans for significant cost-cutting measures within the federal government. President Trump has tasked Musk with the responsibility of reducing the size and spending of the government, and he signed an executive order that grants Musk more authority to implement these cuts. This order instructs the heads of various government agencies to comply with Musk's directives. However, Musk's agency, known as Doge, has faced criticism from Democrats who argue that it lacks transparency and has encountered legal challenges. For instance, a federal judge has blocked Doge from accessing certain treasury records, which is crucial to ensure that the agency does not interfere with funding approved by Congress. Musk, who was speaking to reporters for the first time since Trump took office last month, described the sweeping government cuts as 'common sense' measures that are 'not draconian or radical. ' He stated, 'The people voted for major government reform and that's what the people are going to get,' emphasizing the democratic process. Musk also acknowledged that he expects to be scrutinized for his actions, saying, 'It's not like I think I can get away with something. ' During the news conference, Musk referred to federal workers as an 'unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government' that he believes holds more power than elected representatives. The 53-year-old entrepreneur wore a black 'Make America Great Again' cap and engaged in light-hearted banter with reporters, even carrying his young son, X Æ A-Xii, affectionately known as X, on his shoulders. Musk stressed the importance of reducing federal expenses, stating, 'It's essential for America to remain solvent as a country. ' He was also questioned about a recent false claim that the US government was sending millions of dollars worth of condoms to Gaza. Musk admitted, 'Some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected. ' In the early weeks of Trump's presidency, Musk has taken the lead in efforts to rapidly shrink the federal government. Representatives from Doge have entered various departments to monitor spending, offered many federal workers an exit route, and moved to freeze federal funding for agencies like the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Trump claimed that Musk's work has uncovered fraud and abuse, although he did not provide any evidence to support this assertion. He estimated that more than $1 trillion in wasteful spending would be discovered, but did not elaborate further. The extensive cost-cutting initiative has faced repeated criticism from opponents, including senior Democrats, who argue that it could have significant repercussions both domestically and internationally. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently stated, 'An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government. ' He indicated that Democrats would work to block Musk's efforts by introducing specific language into spending bills. However, with Republicans holding a majority in both chambers of Congress, Trump's agenda has encountered more immediate challenges in the courtroom. Trump expressed hope that the judicial system would allow them to proceed with their plans, referring to recent rulings that have temporarily halted his efforts to downsize the government. Critics of Doge have also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given Musk's numerous business interests. Democrats have accused him of personally benefiting from some of the changes the Trump administration is attempting to implement. Musk stated that the public could form their own opinions regarding any potential conflicts. Trump added that if the White House believed there was a lack of transparency or a conflict of interest, 'we would not let him do that segment or look in that area. ' Following this, Trump signed an executive order instructing Doge to 'significantly' reduce the size of the federal workforce. The order also calls for government offices to 'undertake plans for large-scale reductions in force. ' It specifies that once the hiring freeze, which Trump enacted on his first day in office, ends, agencies should hire no more than one person for every four who leave. A recent poll conducted by the BBC's US partner indicated that a majority of Americans support Musk's work, but opinions vary on how much influence he should wield. The poll suggested that Republicans, in particular, back his efforts to cut federal spending and foreign aid. While many respondents expressed favorable views of Trump's policies, approximately 66% indicated that they wanted him to focus more on lowering prices. One agency that has been significantly impacted by the cost-cutting measures is USAID. On Tuesday, the agency's inspector general was fired just one day after releasing a report that criticized plans to place the majority of the agency's staff on leave and close US-backed aid programs worldwide.