Musk Takes Center Stage at First Cabinet Meeting of Trump’s Second Term
Musk Defends Controversial Spending Cuts as Trump Backs His Efforts at Cabinet Meeting
- Elon Musk made a prominent appearance at the first cabinet meeting of US President Donald Trump
- Musk emphasized that his initiatives were aimed at preventing the United States from going "bankrupt,"
- Musk also brushed off media reports suggesting discontent among some cabinet members
Elon Musk made a prominent appearance at the first cabinet meeting of US President Donald Trump’s second term on Wednesday, where he discussed the significant efforts made by his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reduce government spending.
Musk emphasized that his initiatives were aimed at preventing the United States from going “bankrupt,” with Trump expressing that his team was “thrilled” with the drastic budget cuts pushed by the billionaire advisor.
Held on February 26, 2025, the meeting saw Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, donning a black “Make America Great Again” baseball cap. Trump, who was visibly supportive of Musk’s efforts, invited him to stand up and share details about his controversial cost-cutting program.
“If we don’t do this, America will go bankrupt,” Musk declared to the cabinet members, adding that he was enduring significant backlash, including death threats. He humbly described his role as “technical support” for Trump’s administration, jokingly revealing a t-shirt under his overcoat with the words “Tech Support” written in large white letters.
Musk also brushed off media reports suggesting discontent among some cabinet members regarding DOGE’s emails, which instructed federal employees to justify their jobs or face dismissal. He reassured the group, calling it “the best cabinet ever” and expressing gratitude for their “support.”
The meeting, attended by key figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, took a lighter turn when Trump addressed the room, asking, “Is anybody unhappy with Elon? If they are, we’ll throw them out of here,” prompting laughter and applause from the cabinet members.
While acknowledging that some minor disagreements existed, Trump reiterated, “For the most part, I think everyone’s not only happy, they’re thrilled.”
