Musk pitched the idea of a “government efficiency commission” to cut “government overspending,” which he blames for inflation.
Musk pitched the idea of a “government efficiency commission” to cut “government overspending,” which he blames for inflation.
“And I’d love to help out on such a commission if it was formed,” Musk said.
“You’re the greatest cost-cutter in the world,” Trump replied.
Since taking over Twitter in 2022 and rebranding it as X, Musk has laid off 6,000 employees, roughly 80% of its staff.
Musk’s support of Trump is part of a wave of Silicon Valley tech executives who have thrown their support behind the former president, a shift from a traditionally liberal industry. Prominent tech billionaire David Sacks held a Trump fundraiser in June — complete with mini hamburgers with American flags in them — which raised $12 million for the former president’s campaign.
The interview comes after Musk moved X’s headquarters out of San Francisco and into an office space shared with xAI.
Trump returned to X just days before the interview, with his first post in nearly a year calling on users to support his run for the presidency.
Garrett Leahy can be reached at garrett@sfstandard.com