Musk dismisses ‘hostile takeover’ claims in White House debut

File Source: Ratopati

Elon Musk denied accusations of leading a “hostile takeover” of the U.S. government as he made his first appearance at the White House on Tuesday, standing beside President Donald Trump.

Musk, who has been tasked with slashing the size and spending of federal agencies, defended his sweeping cost-cutting measures, calling them “common sense” rather than “draconian or radical.”

“The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what the people are going to get,” Musk said. “That’s what democracy is all about.” He added, “I fully expect to be scrutinized. It’s not like I think I can get away with something.”

Trump signed an order expanding the authority of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), instructing all government agencies to comply. The agency has faced criticism from Democrats over transparency concerns and legal challenges, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer recently calling it “an unelected shadow government conducting a hostile takeover.” Schumer vowed to fight Musk’s efforts by introducing restrictions in spending bills.

Despite the backlash, Republicans control both chambers of Congress, leaving the courts as the primary obstacle to Trump’s agenda. “I hope that the court system is going to allow us to do what we have to do,” Trump said, referencing rulings that have temporarily blocked his plans, including an employee buyout program.

Musk, wearing a black Make America Great Again cap, responded to critics by arguing that the federal workforce had become “an unelected, fourth, unconstitutional branch of government” with “more power than any elected representative.” He also defended the drastic spending cuts, saying, “It’s not optional for us to reduce federal expenses. It’s essential. It’s essential for America to remain solvent as a country.”

The billionaire, who was appointed rather than elected, appeared in high spirits, occasionally joking with reporters. At one point, he carried his young son on his shoulders as Trump introduced the child to the press. However, he faced tough questions about misinformation, including a recent false claim about U.S. aid to Gaza. “Some of the things that I say will be incorrect and should be corrected,” Musk admitted.

Since Trump took office last month, Musk has aggressively pushed forward with plans to shrink the federal government. Doge representatives have entered multiple agencies to monitor spending, offered millions of workers an exit route, and moved to freeze federal funding. One of the hardest-hit agencies is the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where the inspector general was fired a day after releasing a report criticizing plans to place most of the agency’s staff on leave and shut down U.S.-backed aid programs.

“We found fraud and abuse,” Trump claimed of Musk’s cost-cutting initiatives, though he provided no evidence. He estimated that over $1 trillion in wasteful spending would be uncovered but did not elaborate. Critics have also raised concerns over Musk’s business interests, questioning whether he stands to personally benefit from policy changes under Trump’s administration. Musk dismissed these concerns, saying the public could judge for themselves. Trump added, “If we thought there was a lack of transparency or a conflict of interest, we would not let him do that segment or look in that area.”

The executive order Trump signed on Tuesday calls for “significant” reductions in the federal workforce and requires agencies to hire no more than one employee for every four who leave once Trump’s hiring freeze is lifted.

A CBS News poll indicates that while most Americans support Musk’s cost-cutting efforts, opinions remain divided over how much influence he should have. Republicans overwhelmingly back his push to reduce federal spending and foreign aid, while 66% of respondents said they want Trump to focus more on lowering prices.

As Musk continues reshaping the federal government, the political and legal battles over his role are far from over.