This mix of images created on August 12, 2024 exhibits, L-R, Tesla CEO Elon Musk talking on the twenty seventh annual Milken Institute International Convention on the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Might 6, 2024 and former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump standing onstage over the past day of the 2024 Republican Nationwide Conference on the Fiserv Discussion board in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2024. US President Donald Trump mentioned in remarks airing on February 9, 2025, that Musk, who’s presiding over a purge of US authorities jobs, will assist discover “tons of of billions of {dollars} of fraud” in federal businesses. Talking in a Fox Information interview set to air earlier than the Tremendous Bowl soccer championship, Trump mentioned the American folks “need me to seek out” waste and that Musk, the world’s richest man and the chief of the president’s cost-cutting efforts, has been “an awesome assist” in rooting out pointless spending. (Picture by Frederic J. BROWN and Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump mentioned in remarks aired Sunday that Elon Musk, who’s presiding over a purge of presidency jobs, will assist discover “tons of of billions of {dollars} of fraud” in federal businesses.
Talking in a Fox Information interview aired earlier than the Tremendous Bowl soccer championship, Trump mentioned the American folks “need me to seek out” waste and that Musk, the world’s richest man and the chief of the president’s cost-cutting efforts, has been “an awesome assist” in rooting out pointless spending.
“We’re going to seek out billions, tons of of billions of {dollars} of fraud and abuse. And, you realize, the folks elected me on that,” Trump advised Fox Information Channel’s Bret Baier.
Throughout his three weeks in workplace the president has unleashed a flurry of government orders aimed toward slashing federal spending. He has appointed SpaceX and Tesla boss Musk to steer his federal cost-cutting efforts below the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
The administration has highlighted a number of authorities initiatives Trump believes needs to be ended or curtailed, however proof of any widespread criminality or fraud has not been introduced.
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Musk has already taken unprecedented steps to close down the US Company for Worldwide Improvement (USAID), shedding 1000’s of workers.
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On Friday, a federal choose ordered a short lived pause to the administration’s plan to place 2,200 USAID staff on paid depart.
Within the interview, Trump claimed there was “tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} of cash that’s going to locations the place it shouldn’t be going.”
Trump mentioned in his interview that over the subsequent day or so he’ll order Musk to show his authorities scalpel to the Division of Training, a frequent goal of Republican ire.
“Then I’m going to go to the navy,” Trump mentioned, reiterating his name for a overview of spending on the Pentagon, whose price range totals some $850 billion.
Trump additionally doubled down on a scheme to annex Canada, saying the USA’ northern neighbor “can be a lot better off being a 51st state, as a result of we lose $200 billion a yr with Canada.”
Since taking workplace, Trump has characterised billions of {dollars} in each day bilateral commerce as a US “subsidy” and claimed with out proof that Canada wouldn’t be “a viable nation” with out it.
Trump threatened Canada and Mexico with a 25-percent tariff on all imports, suspending the measures after placing offers with each nations on plans to curb unlawful immigration and the trafficking of fentanyl into the USA.
Each nations secured a one-month delay after the Eleventh-hour talks with Trump, however on Sunday the US chief warned what had been finished to date was “not sufficient.”
“One thing has to occur, it’s not sustainable, and I’m altering it,” he mentioned, when requested if each nations wanted to do extra earlier than the 30-day deadline.
‘Evisceration of democracy’
The function of Musk, a high Trump donor and ally, within the president’s initiatives has confronted criticism partially as a result of his corporations have had billions of {dollars} in contracts with the US authorities — greater than $20 billion, in keeping with Home Democrat Mark Pocan.
Requested whether or not he trusts Musk to pretty root out wasteful spending, Trump appeared to claim that the rich entrepreneur and his companies aren’t benefiting financially by means of Musk’s work with DOGE.
“He’s not gaining something,” Trump mentioned.
Democrats have lined as much as slam Trump’s numerous efforts, together with Senator Chris Murphy, who on Sunday warned of an “assault on the Structure” and mentioned Trump was ushering in a “billionaire takeover of presidency.”
“The president desires to have the ability to determine how and the place cash is spent in order that he can reward his political associates, he can punish his political enemies. That’s the evisceration of democracy,” Murphy advised ABC Information speak present “This Week.”
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, the highest Republican in Congress, has repeatedly downplayed considerations that Trump is exceeding his authority or dashing too shortly to overtake the federal authorities, together with businesses like USAID.
“I’m not uncomfortable with the tempo of this,” Johnson advised “Fox Information Sunday.”
The speaker described Musk as “an out of doors auditor” whose workforce is uncovering “unbelievable abuses of the general public fisc,” referring to the full amount of cash a authorities has to spend.
Trump’s Nationwide Safety Advisor Mike Waltz declined to say Sunday whether or not he believed it was a battle of curiosity to have Musk, whose corporations maintain authorities protection contracts, oversee cost-cutting on the Pentagon.
“Every part there appears to price an excessive amount of, take too lengthy and ship too little to the troopers,” Waltz advised NBC of Pentagon bills.
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En path to the Tremendous Bowl, Trump flew over the Gulf of Mexico, which he has ordered renamed the “Gulf of America,” and signed a proclamation recognizing February 9 as “Gulf of America Day.”