Trump on Musk: 'If there's a problem, we won't let him near it'
President Trump said Monday that billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk can’t do anything without approval from the White House, suggesting if there’s a conflict of opinion with Musk that he would be blocked from acting.
Trump was asked why is it important for Musk to have access to payment systems at the Treasury Department after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials have demanded access to the systems that officials use to disburse funds.
“He’s got access only to letting people go that he thinks are no good, if we agree with him and it's only if we agree with him,” Trump said in response in the Oval Office.
He added that Musk “can’t do and won’t do anything without our approval.”
“We’ll give him the approval when appropriate, where not appropriate, we won’t. But he reports in, and it’s something that he feels very strongly about,” the president said. “If there’s conflict, then we won’t let him get near it.”
He said that Musk has a talented team around him, and he has the task of shrinking government, reiterating that Musk will be blocked from anything that conflicts with the thinking of the administration.
“Where we think there’s a conflict or if there’s a problem, we won’t let him go near it,” Trump added.
“If there was something that didn’t have my OK, I’d let you know about it very fast,” the president said.
He also said there are other talented people around the White House and mentioned media mogul Rupert Murdoch and Oracle Chief Technology Officer Larry Ellison, who were also in the room.
Musk said earlier Monday he and Trump “agreed” to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) after Trump said his administration will get the “lunatics” out of the agency before a decision is made about its future.
Trump, also on Sunday night, called Musk smart but said he won’t always listen to his advice on cutting costs in the federal government.
“I think Elon is doing a good job. He’s a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won’t agree with it, and we’ll not go where he wants to go. But I think he’s doing a great job. He’s a smart guy. Very smart. And he’s very much into cutting the budget of our federal budget,” the president said.
-
Trump: Elon Musk won't do anything 'without our approval'
President Trump told reporters Elon Musk only had government access to "letting people go that he thinks are no good," and assured the public that his Department of Government Efficiency would not ...NBC News - 7h -
Trump says Elon Musk won't take action 'without our approval'
Trump to discuss tariffs with officials from Canada and MexicoNBC News - 14h -
Napoli chief: We won't overpay for Garnacho
Napoli's sporting director Giovanni Manna spoke about the prospect of signing Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho ahead of his team's win over Juventus on Saturday, emphasising that the ...ESPN - Jan. 26 -
Carville’s advice to fellow Dems on Trump: 'Let him punch himself out’
Democratic strategist James Carville urged party members to allow President Trump to “punch himself out” during his first few weeks in office. “He just says anything that he wants to say,” Carville ...The Hill - Jan. 25 -
Musk’s High Visibilty at Inauguration Puts Him Solidly in Trump’s Orbit
The presidential inauguration was a veritable billionaire’s convention with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in attendance, but Musk clearly has a bigger role.Inc. - Jan. 21 -
'His body is letting him down' - why Draper had to retire again
As Jack Draper retires from his Australian Open fourth-round match, BBC Sport analyses the key questions around his injury issues.BBC News - Jan. 19 -
Trump Invited Bolsonaro to His Inauguration. Brazil Won't Let Him Go.
Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, banned from leaving Brazil due to allegations he plotted a coup, has appealed to the Supreme Court to attend the Jan. 20 ceremony in Washington.The Wall Street Journal - Jan. 15 -
Will China Let Elon Musk Buy TikTok?
As the popular video app faces a ban in the United States, Chinese officials are said to be weighing options to save it — including a sale to the tech mogul.The New York Times - Jan. 14 -
Elon Musk is a monster bully on the loose, but he can only get his way if we let him | Martin Kettle
The democratic order has faced down tyrants and megalomaniacs before. The name of the game for liberals for 2025 and beyond must be survival. They can smell the fear. And they are thrilled by what ...The Guardian - Jan. 9
More from The Hill
-
Senate tees up final vote on Pam Bondi AG nomination
The Senate on Monday teed up a final vote on Pam Bondi's nomination to lead the Justice Department. The chamber voted 52-46 to limit debate. Absent an agreement with Democrats, that puts a final ...The Hill - 1h -
Peter Navarro accuses tariff critics of ‘dishonoring’ those who have died from fentanyl overdose
Peter Navarro, a senior trade aide to President Trump, said those who are critical of the president’s tariffs are “dishonoring” the people who have died from fentanyl overdose. Navarro joined Fox ...The Hill - 2h -
Trump's new TikTok plan
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Trump floats new way to buy TikTok, save app from ban President Trump signed an executive order Monday ...The Hill - 2h -
Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to US southern border
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Hegseth vows to surge manpower, resources to southern border ...The Hill - 3h -
Duffy tells DOT to prioritize areas with high birth rates
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a memo told the Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize communities that have higher birth and marriage rates. "To the maximum extent permitted by ...The Hill - 3h
More in Politics
-
Trump moves to develop sovereign wealth fund to 'create value for American citizens'
President Donald Trump said Monday he would create a sovereign wealth fund, a pool of assets like those that exist in other countries that can help pay out regular funds to ordinary citizens.NBC News - 1h -
Who is Susie Wiles, Trump’s chief of staff?
President Trump's Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is the first woman to ever hold the crucial White House post. Wiles was Trump’s co-campaign manager during his 2024 bid to regain the presidency. Before ...NBC News - 1h -
Senate tees up final vote on Pam Bondi AG nomination
The Senate on Monday teed up a final vote on Pam Bondi's nomination to lead the Justice Department. The chamber voted 52-46 to limit debate. Absent an agreement with Democrats, that puts a final ...The Hill - 1h -
Peter Navarro accuses tariff critics of ‘dishonoring’ those who have died from fentanyl overdose
Peter Navarro, a senior trade aide to President Trump, said those who are critical of the president’s tariffs are “dishonoring” the people who have died from fentanyl overdose. Navarro joined Fox ...The Hill - 2h -
Trump's new TikTok plan
Welcome to The Hill's Technology newsletter {beacon} Technology Technology The Big Story Trump floats new way to buy TikTok, save app from ban President Trump signed an executive order Monday ...The Hill - 2h