4 takeaways from the Trump, Elon Musk interview

President Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk sat down for a joint interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity where they defended the administration’s massive overhaul of the federal government and gave some insights into their friendship.

The interview was the latest display of Trump putting Musk in the spotlight following an Oval Office appearance by the Tesla CEO last week in which he fielded several questions from reporters while the president sat at the Resolute Desk.

Hannity, who offered both men praise during the interview, at one point assessed: “I feel like I’m interviewing two brothers here.”

Here are four takeaways from the interview.

Musk responds to Democratic attacks

Musk responded to pushback he has faced since spearheading the Trump administration’s efforts to offer buyouts to federal workers and to find ways to cut waste and fraud at agencies, blaming the bureaucracy for the criticism.

“If the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president, the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy,” Musk said.

Hannity rattled off a number of criticisms Democrats had for Musk, including claims he is causing a Constitutional crisis, that DOGE is acting illegally, and that Democrats are calling Musk a “vernacular for a male body part.”

“Why? Why are they reacting like this?” Musk said.

“All we're really trying to do here is restore the will of the people through the president. And, and what we're finding is that there's an unelected bureaucracy. Speaking of unelected… there's a vast federal bureaucracy that is implacably opposed to the president and the cabinet. And if you look at, say, D.C. voting, it's 92 percent Kamala,” Musk added, referring former Vice President Harris winning Washington, D.C. by 92 percent in November.

A number of federal workers also live in surrounding Virginia and Maryland, which Harris also won but not by as much.

The SpaceX CEO also bashed the Biden administration, arguing that it didn’t act in a competent or caring manner and that it lied to the American public.

“In order to save the taxpayer money, it comes down to two things, competence and caring,” Musk said.

“And the problem is that the American taxpayer has been getting a terrible deal because look at the last administration,” he added.

Hannity replied, “But they lied to us and said that Joe didn't have a cognitive decline,” referring to Biden’s cognitive abilities that came into question in the weeks before he dropped out of the 2024 race.

“They fully lied,” Musk responded, before adding “They flat out lied, it’s insane” when Hannity brought up the border.

Trump has praise for Musk

Trump had high praise for Musk throughout the interview, highlighting his successful tech career and his intelligence.

The president noted he was impressed with Musk when he saw that Musk’s team had the ability to catch a rocket booster instead of having it crash into the ocean.

“Something that had an effect on me was when I saw the rocket ship come back and get grabbed, like, you grab a beautiful little baby, you grab your baby… you can't really have a rocket program if you're going to dump $1 billion into the ocean every time you fly, you have to save it. And he saved it,” Trump said.

He added that Russia and China don’t have anything comparable to Musk’s rocket program.

In the interview, the president also credited Musk as a major key towards implementing the dozens of executive orders he has signed since taking office.

“You write a beautiful executive and you sign it, you assume it’s going to be done but it’s not,” Trump said, adding that Musk works with “100 geniuses” at DOGE to implement his agenda.

“He’s got some very brilliant young people working for him that dress much worse than him, actually,” Trump said in jest. “They dress in just t-shirts. You wouldn't know they have 180 IQ,” the president said. “But he gets it done. He's a leader. He gets it done.”

Musk solidified Trump support after Butler

Musk said he would have endorsed Trump regardless in the 2024 election but that an assassination on Trump’s life in Butler, Pa. in July sped up that process.

“Well, I was going to do it anyway, but that was a precipitating event,” Musk told Hannity.

“That speeded it up a little bit,” Trump said and Musk agreed.

Trump replied, “I didn’t know that.”

“It sped it up, but I was going to do it anyway,” Musk said.Musk endorsed Trump just after the assassination attempt, sharing his support for the then GOP-nominee on his social platform, X. He shared a video at the time of Trump standing and raising his fist, with a bloody ear following a shooting at an outdoor rally as he was being hauled away by Secret Service.

Trump believes Musk will find $1T in DOGE cuts

Trump said he believes Musk will be able to find $1 trillion in cuts to the federal government, after DOGE determined on Tuesday it has found $55 billion in savings in the last month.

“As good as they are, they're not going to find some contract that was crooked, you know crooked as hell. And I mean this going to be so much that isn't found. But, what is that I think he’s going to find $1 trillion,” Trump said.

“Yeah, I think so,” Musk agreed.

The tech billionaire said that his goal is to “try to get $1 trillion out of the deficit” and that he aims to pay down U.S. debt.

“If the deficit is not brought under control, America will go bankrupt. This is a very important thing for people to understand. A country is no different from an individual in that if an individual overspends, an individual can go bankrupt. And so can a country and the massive waste, fraud and abuse that has been going on, which is leading to, a $2 trillion a year deficit, that's, that's what the president was handed on Jan 20th, a $2 trillion deficit. It's insane,” Musk said.

The tech executive in early January said that he will “try for $2 trillion,” adding at the time, “I think that’s like the best case outcome.”

Topics

Canada punches ticket to 4 Nations championship: Grades, takeaways from win

Early goals from Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon set the stage. Here are the keys to the game, and what's next.
ESPN - 2d
4 Takeaways From the Hearing on Dismissing Charges Against Eric Adams

The Justice Department has asked to dismiss a federal corruption case against the New York mayor, prompting resignations and calls for the judge to reject the request.
The New York Times - 3h
Five key takeaways from Trump's meeting with Modi

Modi and Trump rekindle ties amid a global trade war, balancing tariffs, trade deals and strategic interests.
BBC News - 6d
Elon Musk’s journey from climate champion to backing EV-bashing Trump

Musk believes Tesla’s rivals are more vulnerable to Trump’s moves against electric vehicles. Donald Trump ’s attempts to slash incentives for electric cars would cause sales of the vehicles to ...
The Guardian - Feb. 7
Who will stop Trump and Elon Musk from dismantling the US government?

Trump and Musk are playing fast and loose with presidential and constitutional norms.
The Hill - 2d
Trump, Musk to sit for first joint interview on Hannity

President Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk will sit for their first joint interview next week with Fox News host Sean Hannity, the network announced Friday. Hannity will interview the two ...
The Hill - 6d
Musk and Trump put on lovefest in Sean Hannity interview

Pair pay glowing tributes to each other, rejecting claims that billionaire is usurping president’s limelight – and power. US politics – live updates Donald Trump and his wealthiest backer, the ...
The Guardian - 1d
Takeaways from Modi, Trump meeting: Cooperation on trade, defense and mutual praise

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the United States President Donald Trump have spoken about easing tariffs and resolving trade concerns between the two countries, while also shoring up ...
ABC News - 6d
Trump Argues That Courts Cannot Block Elon Musk’s DOGE Team From Treasury Systems

The president’s lawyers argued that the distinction between civil servants and political appointees was unworkable and unconstitutional. A hearing is set for Friday.
The New York Times - Feb. 10
In Super Bowl interview, Trump says Musk is "not gaining anything" with DOGE

President Trump told Fox News' Bret Baier in an interview ahead of Super Bowl 2025 that he'd "love to" bring the country together, but "there's only one way to do it and that's massive success."
CBS News - Feb. 10
Trump and Musk speak out in joint interview over mass firings

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are speaking out in a joint interview and defending their efforts to radically remake the federal government. It comes after a federal judge on Tuesday declined ...
NBC News - 1d
Global disunity, energy concerns and the shadow of Musk: key takeaways from the Paris AI summit

AI Action Summit ends with US vice-president criticising European regulation and warning against cooperation with China. Political and business leaders descended on Paris this week for the third ...
The Guardian - 6d
Takeaways from Vance's meeting with Zelenskyy

Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Munich, Germany, on Friday as the Trump administration attempts to end Ukraine's nearly three-year war with Russia. CBS ...
CBS News - 6d
John Dickerson on Elon Musk's role in the Trump administration

A key question behind Elon Musk's remake of the federal government is whether he's moving so fast the baby might get thrown out with the bathwater. John Dickerson discusses.
CBS News - Feb. 12
Elon Musk’s X Settles Trump Lawsuit

The social media site agreed to pay in the range of $10 million to settle with the president, who had sued over the suspension of his account in 2021.
The New York Times - Feb. 13
Elon Musk Brings His Playbook From Twitter to the Government

Ryan Mac and Kate Conger, two New York Times technology reporters who together wrote a book about what happened when Elon Musk bought Twitter, explain some of his tactics.
The New York Times - Feb. 8
Judge blocks Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing Americans' sensitive data

Elon Musk and his team of cost-cutters at the Department of Government Efficiency have found their next target, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. But security concerns about their actions - ...
CBS News - Feb. 8
Elon Musk takes questions from Oval Office about government cuts

Elon Musk answered questions on Tuesday in the Oval Office next to President Donald Trump about his dramatic makeover of the federal government, saying they have identified billions of dollars in ...
NBC News - Feb. 12
OpenAI's board rejects bid from Elon Musk-led group

OpenAI's board rejected a $97.4-billion bid by an Elon Musk-led investment group to buy the San Francisco startup. OpenAI's board chair said the company is not for sale.
Los Angeles Times - 5d
OpenAI Board Rejects $97.4 Billion Offer From Elon Musk

This is Musk’s plan to stop the startup from becoming a for-profit firm.
Inc. - 5d
From X to DOGE: Inside Elon Musk’s ‘playbook’ of sweeping job cuts

NBC News Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard and CNBC Tech Reporter Lora Kolodny join Meet the Press NOW to discuss the Trump administration’s sweeping federal job cuts and their similarities to Elon ...
NBC News - 1d
Live updates: Trump, Musk sit for joint interview; Senate GOP will take up budget resolution

President Trump and Elon Musk are sitting for a joint interview on Fox News Tuesday night where they are addressing their working relationship and how they came to know each other. The interview is ...
The Hill - 1d
Elon Musk’s Takeover Is Causing Rifts in Donald Trump’s Inner Circle

“He’s getting too big for his breeches,” says one Trumpworld source.
Wired - Feb. 5
Pres. Trump gives Elon Musk and DOGE permission to look at Pentagon

President Donald Trump continues his efforts to reduce the size of the federal government, including the Pentagon, with the help of Elon Musk and his DOGE commission. NBC News Correspondents Kelly ...
NBC News - Feb. 7
How Trump is testing checks and balances through Elon Musk's DOGE

NBC News' Laura Jarrett looks at whether there are legal paths to block recent moves by President Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
NBC News - Feb. 7
How Sam Altman Sidestepped Elon Musk to Win Over Donald Trump

After helping President Trump get elected, Elon Musk was poised to dominate the country’s A.I. policies. Then Mr. Altman sneaked into the White House.
The New York Times - Feb. 8
Elon Musk’s Business Empire Scores Benefits Under Trump Shake-Up

Government investigations into Mr. Musk’s companies are stalling amid President Trump’s firings and Biden administration resignations.
The New York Times - Feb. 11
Elon Musk appears with Trump and tries to claim ‘Doge’ team is transparent

Key presidential ally, whose agency has operated in secrecy, also makes claim – without evidence – of fraud at USAid. Elon Musk claimed in the Oval Office on Tuesday that his so-called “department ...
The Guardian - Feb. 12
Elon Musk defends DOGE as Trump orders agencies to comply with cuts

Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest man, took questions for the first time since the president gave him broad authority to overhaul the executive branch.
CBS News - Feb. 12
Trump froze a bribery law that previously hit suppliers for Elon Musk's Tesla

President Trump has told Attorney General Pam Bondi to look at past cases by the DOJ involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
CNBC - Feb. 12
6 Americans on What They Think of Trump, Elon Musk and Gaza

A lot has happened since Mr. Trump took office. We checked in with a group of voters to see what they like and don’t.
The New York Times - 5d
Trump praises Elon Musk as pair repeat familiar criticisms of opponents – as it happened

This blog has now closed. You can read our latest politics coverage here . The US delegation is now speaking to the media. My colleague Jakub Krupa reports that Michael Waltz, the US national ...
The Guardian - 1d
Elon Musk is not telling the truth

Despite what he claims, there is absolutely no way Musk works 120 hours a week. His own words prove it.
The Hill - Feb. 13
How to understand Elon Musk

His attack on government is not ideologically coherent but it can be traced to an engineering mindset that values radical ideas
Financial Times - 5d
Elon Musk’s wrecking ball

The world’s richest man is taking a torch to the American state on behalf of Donald Trump
Financial Times - 2d
Elon Musk Zeroes In on the I.R.S.

The tech mogul’s cost-cutting initiative is seeking sensitive taxpayer data, drawing concerns about privacy, potential political retribution and more.
The New York Times - 2d