Farewell Interview: Musk Speaks His Mind

On Thursday, Elon Musk held a one-hour Q&A with a dozen media outlets at the White House, resembling a pre-departure interview. Musk stated that cutting government spending is a "long-term endeavor." He noted that DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) is working to eliminate improper appropriations, but wasteful spending and fraud could resurface if vigilance wanes. This effort may span the entirety of Trump's four-year term.

Musk revealed that DOGE has already cut $160 billion in federal spending, far below the $2 trillion target set last year.

Musk also offered defense spending recommendations for the Pentagon. He plans to maintain a small office in the West Wing, using it one to two days a week. He described the office as cramped, with only "a sliver of sunlight," but said he doesn’t mind from a security perspective.