Elon Musk Sounds Regretful Over His Time Leading Trump's Cost-Cutting Initiative DOGE, Vowing He'd Handle Things Differently This Time Around.
In a recent podcast interview with former Trump administration aide Katie Miller, billionaire Elon Musk expressed some level of regret over his time leading the cost-cutting initiative DOGE. The endeavor, which aimed to slash wasteful government spending and reduce bureaucratic red tape, was widely criticized for its aggressive approach and impact on federal workers.
When asked if he believed DOGE was successful, Musk replied that it was "a little bit successful," although he acknowledged that some programs were effectively shut down and others faced significant reductions. However, he also stated that the initiative may have stopped funding for projects that made "no sense" and was "entirely wasteful."
Miller pressed Musk on whether he would repeat his time leading such an initiative, given what he now knows. Musk's response was somewhat coy, stating that he likely wouldn't do things in the same way again. Instead, he claimed he would work within his own companies to achieve similar goals.
Musk also referenced a notable incident involving Tesla dealerships, where several cars were vandalized, and stated that he might not have been as reckless in handling such situations if he were leading DOGE again.
The remarks come six months after Musk stepped down from leading the Trump administration's cost-cutting mission. While some of the cost savings figures touted by DOGE have been disputed, Musk has long claimed that the initiative could save the government hundreds of billions of dollars, potentially up to $2 trillion.
Musk's relationship with former President Trump has seen ups and downs since leaving the White House. The two appear to have patched things up after a public spat over Tesla subsidies, with Trump even calling Musk "funny" in a recent interview.
In a recent podcast interview with former Trump administration aide Katie Miller, billionaire Elon Musk expressed some level of regret over his time leading the cost-cutting initiative DOGE. The endeavor, which aimed to slash wasteful government spending and reduce bureaucratic red tape, was widely criticized for its aggressive approach and impact on federal workers.
When asked if he believed DOGE was successful, Musk replied that it was "a little bit successful," although he acknowledged that some programs were effectively shut down and others faced significant reductions. However, he also stated that the initiative may have stopped funding for projects that made "no sense" and was "entirely wasteful."
Miller pressed Musk on whether he would repeat his time leading such an initiative, given what he now knows. Musk's response was somewhat coy, stating that he likely wouldn't do things in the same way again. Instead, he claimed he would work within his own companies to achieve similar goals.
Musk also referenced a notable incident involving Tesla dealerships, where several cars were vandalized, and stated that he might not have been as reckless in handling such situations if he were leading DOGE again.
The remarks come six months after Musk stepped down from leading the Trump administration's cost-cutting mission. While some of the cost savings figures touted by DOGE have been disputed, Musk has long claimed that the initiative could save the government hundreds of billions of dollars, potentially up to $2 trillion.
Musk's relationship with former President Trump has seen ups and downs since leaving the White House. The two appear to have patched things up after a public spat over Tesla subsidies, with Trump even calling Musk "funny" in a recent interview.