In his first Cabinet meeting after assuming office for the second time, US President Donald Trump strongly defended billionaire Elon Musk, backing his aggressive cost-cutting measures under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
During the meeting, Trump addressed reported tensions over Musk’s influence, asking, “Is anybody unhappy with Elon?” As nervous laughter filled the room, he added, “If you are, we’ll throw him out of here.” His remarks were met with applause, reinforcing Musk’s central role in Trump’s administration.
Musk, wearing a black “Make America Great Again” cap, took the spotlight as he explained his drastic measures to reduce government spending. His directive requiring federal employees to justify their jobs or risk termination has sparked pushback from several key departments, including defense, energy, and homeland security. Despite the controversy, Trump insisted, “All Cabinet members are extremely happy with Elon.”
Musk acknowledged the backlash, stating, “If we don’t do this, America will go bankrupt,” and revealed that he has been receiving “a lot of death threats” over his reforms. He also made light of his role, calling himself “humble technical support” before revealing a t-shirt that read “Tech Support” in bold letters.
Beyond Musk’s growing influence, the Cabinet meeting also covered key policy decisions, including direct negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, an upcoming visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and a planned 25% tariff on European imports. Trump controversially declared, “The European Union was created to screw the United States.”
With Musk’s expanded role in reshaping government operations and Trump’s bold foreign policy moves, the administration’s direction has sparked widespread debate in Washington and beyond.