Elon Musk joined President Donald Trump and his Cabinet on Thursday for the first meeting of Trump’s second term, amid growing criticism over cost-cutting measures led by Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Musk, who serves as head of DOGE and senior adviser to Trump, defended his aggressive efforts to reduce federal spending, saying that he’s “getting a lot of death threats” due to the federal cuts. “I can, like, stack them up,” Musk said, pointing out, “But if we don’t do this, America will go bankrupt. That’s why it has to be done.”
Wearing a black T-shirt labelled “tech support,” and cap with the famous “MAGA” tag, Musk highlighted his initiatives to downsize the federal workforce in what observers noted as an extraordinary demonstration of his influence within the Trump administration, reported USA today.
President Trump backed Musk during the meeting, asking cabinet members, “Is anybody unhappy with Elon?” He then jokingly added, “If you are, well, throw them out of here,” prompting laughter and applause. Trump acknowledged minor disagreements but remarked, “For the most part, I think everyone’s not only happy, they’re thrilled.”
Under Musk’s leadership, DOGE has implemented sweeping cuts across federal departments, slashing budgets and laying off tens of thousands of workers.
The cost-cutting campaign has provoked strong backlash, including threats against Musk.
Last week, David Cherry of Palmyra, Indiana, was arrested for posting death threats against Musk on X, the social media platform owned by the billionaire. Authorities discovered an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun, ammunition, and a ballistic vest at Cherry’s residence, according to the Washington Times. He was charged with intimidation.
