Elon Musk denies 'hostile takeover' of government in surprise White House appearance
Elon Musk has made a surprise first appearance at the White House to defend his cost-cutting plans for the federal government, denouncing accusations of a "hostile takeover" as "common sense" measures. The billionaire entrepreneur has been tasked by President Trump with slashing the size and spending of the federal government, despite criticism from Democrats who claim it is an overreach of executive power. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) has faced legal challenges and scrutiny over its transparency.
- Musk's assertions that he is merely implementing "common sense" measures could be seen as a deliberate attempt to downplay concerns about the unprecedented scope of his efforts, potentially setting a concerning precedent for executive authority in the federal government.
- To what extent will Congress hold Trump accountable for the consequences of empowering an unelected agency like Doge to make sweeping decisions that bypass traditional legislative and judicial checks on power?