Scarborough: Musk speaking to reporters in Oval Office 'extraordinarily important'

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough offered rare praise of Elon Musk for facing reporters inside the Oval Office on Tuesday as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) works to trim the size and spending of the federal government.

"In theory, this would be wonderful. Whether you’re talking about the Pentagon, whether you’re talking about the VA, whether you’re talking about social security, anybody that has tried to deal with the IRS and how antiquated, and I may say, too, for Republicans, understaffed," Scarborough said of Musk's "government efficiency" efforts.

But, he added, "They’re not going to tackle the $36 trillion debt by doing all the things they want to do and cutting some employees here and there. So, yeah, this is ... I think, a concept that many Americans would support. A lot of independents would support. The question, though, is: Is it being done legally? Is it being done constitutionally? And is it being done transparently?"

The host's comments were first highlighted by Mediate.

Musk has promised to slash hundreds of millions from the federal budget and cut what he and President Trump have said is wasteful spending at the expense of the American taxpayer.

The efforts, which have included attempts to dismantle federal agencies, buy out hundreds of thousands of federal workers from their jobs and take over federal payment systems, have sparked widespread condemnation from Democrats and lawsuits that have temporarily stymied Musk's actions.

Scarborough argued it will be key for Musk and the White House to work within the constraints of the law and be transparent about what DOGE is doing.

"I think Elon Musk getting before reporters, I actually think as much as possible, since his people are running through these government agencies, I think that is extraordinarily important," the host said. "And it’s also, of course, most important that the letter of the law is followed, that the Constitution is followed, that actually Congress cares about its Article One powers."

Topics

Fact-checking Elon Musk's claims in the Oval Office

The billionaire has made a number of exaggerated or unevidenced claims during a White House event.
BBC News - 2h
Musk's son 'Lil X' steals spotlight in the Oval Office

The billionaire has brought his four-year-old to numerous Washington events.
ABC News - 6h
Elon Musk grilled about DOGE transparency, conflicts in Oval Office

Elon Musk had not faced reporters since taking the lead on Trump's mandate to dismantle much of the federal government.
ABC News - 7h
Elon Musk’s Oval Office Talk Dispels Doubts About His Power

Dispelling doubts, the billionaire showed off his unprecedented power to disrupt and remake the government — with President Trump’s blessing.
The New York Times - 7h
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 - 8h
At Oval Office, Musk Makes Broad Claims of Federal Fraud Without Proof

The billionaire, whose federal cost-cutting team has been operating in secrecy, asserted that he had uncovered waste and fraud across the bureaucracy, without providing evidence.
The New York Times - 4h
Watch: Musk joins Trump in Oval Office to tout DOGE

Tech billionaire Elon Musk joined President Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday to defend the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) amid a flurry of legal challenges seeking to halt its ...
The Hill - 21h
Trump and Musk take questions from reporters in Oval Office

Elon Musk joined President Trump in the Oval Office and took questions from reporters about the work of the Department of Government Efficiency. NBC News' Aaron Gilchrist analyzes the remarks made ...
NBC News - 22h
Musk defends DOGE alongside Trump in striking Oval Office moment

Elon Musk on Tuesday defended the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside President Trump, who invited Musk to speak and sat at the resolute desk as the tech mogul gave a ...
The Hill - 23h