During an interview with Sean Hannity, former President Donald Trump jokingly referred to Elon Musk as “President Musk” while discussing claims that the media is trying to create conflict between them.
“Elon called me and said, ‘You know, they’re trying to drive us apart,’” Trump said. “I told him, absolutely. Then they reported, ‘Breaking news: Donald Trump has given up control of the presidency to Elon Musk. President Musk will be attending a cabinet meeting tonight at 8 o’clock.’” Both Trump and Musk laughed at the remark, though Trump did not specify which media outlet made such claims.
Musk’s Role in Government Efficiency
A large part of the interview focused on the work of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), particularly its major budget cuts to agencies like USAID. Critics argue that DOGE’s actions—such as firing large numbers of federal employees and withholding congressionally approved funds—are illegal. Federal judges have already blocked some of Musk’s efforts, including attempts to access Treasury Department records.
While the White House has stated that Musk is not officially in charge of DOGE but is instead a senior advisor to Trump, some believe this distinction is crucial in legal battles. Lawsuits from Democratic-led states argue that Musk has too much control over government decisions despite not being elected or confirmed by the Senate. The Trump administration, however, insists that Musk does not have direct authority over DOGE’s actions.
Trump’s Twitter Lawsuit
During the interview, Hannity also asked Trump about his lawsuit against Twitter, which recently settled for $10 million. Trump explained that he sued Twitter long before Musk took over the company. When asked if he was okay with the settlement, Musk said he left the decision to Twitter’s legal team and trusted them to do what was best.
Musk’s Background and Public Image
Hannity invited Musk to share more about himself and his work. Musk described himself as a “technologist” who focuses on creating innovations that improve the world. He also showed off a t-shirt reading “tech support,” joking that he was there to provide technology assistance to the president.
The legal battle over Musk’s role in DOGE continues, with lawsuits arguing that he wields too much influence. The Trump administration maintains that Musk does not have direct decision-making power, which could be a key argument in court as they defend DOGE’s actions.
