Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla, is starting to distance himself from the Department of Efficiency (DOGE) as his term as a special government employee nears its conclusion.
His time in this role has been marked by significant budget cuts and considerable public frustration, yet Musk expresses no regrets about his involvement during the Trump administration.
Once hailed in the media and supported by the left, Musk’s shift into a more public-facing role did not come without its critics.
From acquiring Twitter to endorsing Donald Trump, Musk’s year was anything but uneventful, though he described it as “boring” in a way.
In an interview with Fox News host Lara Trump, she inquired whether he feels any regret regarding his position at DOGE and his support for Trump.
Musk responded, “I think it was essential for President Trump to win to keep America great.”
As the November 2024 election approaches, Musk, a former Obama supporter, has become a staunch Trump ally, voicing concerns about President Joe Biden’s “extremely radical left and right administration.”
He remarked, “Anyone who had a grip on the steering wheel—or the teleprompter—during the Biden presidency was truly in charge.”
Musk elaborated, “Had Trump lost, I believe the Democrats’ effort to bring in a significant number of illegal voters would have succeeded.”
He continued, “Some might be skeptical and think, ‘There’s no Democrat plan to undermine democracy and create a lasting, deep-blue socialist state.’ But the more you look into it, the more you’ll realize it’s quite plausible.”
Notably, Musk started his role at DOGE on Trump’s first day in office, but his cost-cutting measures quickly led to backlash across the country.
He noted, “It wasn’t boring, that’s for sure. It was quite a year—eventful, to say the least. At least I wasn’t shot. That’s a positive spin,” he joked.
He acknowledged, “But we did see violence against Tesla stores; I honestly didn’t anticipate such intensity.”
Musk recognized that facing negative attention and adversaries targeting him and his business was, in some ways, unavoidable.
Part of the pushback he experienced was attributed to a “relentless propaganda initiative” from opponents of the Trump administration, aimed at damaging his public image and “assassinating characters,” he claimed.
Musk concluded that the outrage directed toward him indicates that his efforts have been “effective.”
DOGE is reported to have cut at least $160 billion in waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government during Trump’s initial 100 days in office.
Looking ahead, DOGE has made numerous impactful and contentious cuts lately, including significant reductions in federal spending and workforce.
As for his legacy, Musk expressed, “I aimed to promote civilization, advance knowledge, and contribute to our understanding of the universe.”
