Stephen A. Smith on Musk's DOGE: 'Give the man a chance'

Sports media personality Stephen A. Smith urged Americans to be patient with Elon Musk as the tech billionaire works with President Trump and the White House to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.

"Let me tell you I think the argument ... I think the Democrats are really, really messing up when it comes to Donald Trump at this particular moment in time," Smith said while appearing on Sean Hannity's Fox News program Thursday night. "I will openly confess, you know, Elon Musk ... you know, he's not born here and they're making this argument he's not an elected official, he hasn't been confirmed by the Senate."

Smith added that he "gets the discomfort" with Musk but argued "what they're missing is that you messed up things so badly over the last several years, give the man a chance to see what he does."

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO's efforts to curb government spending using the newly-minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked widespread pushback from Democrats in Congress and federal workforce unions.

Musk and Trump have argued there is too much "waste, fraud and abuse" in the federal workforce, arguing that an audit of where taxpayer dollars are being spent is needed.

Smith has teased a presidential run over the last several weeks, and has ripped top Democrat leaders over what he says is a lack of vision and strategy in previous election cycles.

When pressed by Hannity on Thursday on a potential bid, Smith demurred.

"I like my life. My life is very, very good, very fruitful. Politics is a cesspool. We've all seen that," he said. "We've seen what these politicians have gone through. We've seen what President Trump went through over these last several years."

Smith added, "Who would ... who the hell would want to sign up for that?"

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Stephen A. Smith on Musk's DOGE: 'Give the man a chance'

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