Former President Donald Trump shared a new plan for Elon Musk to lead a “government efficiency commission.”
On Thursday, Trump delivered a speech at the Economic Club of New York and said, “At the suggestion of Elon Musk, who has given me his complete and total endorsement…I will create a government efficiency commission tasked with conducting a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and making recommendations for drastic reforms.”
“We need to do it. Can’t go on the way we are now,” the former president added.
The Republican presidential nominee claimed that in 2022, “fraud and improper payments alone cost taxpayers an estimated hundreds of billions of dollars.” He pledged that a commission would propose “drastic reforms” and create a plan to eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months, projecting it would save trillions of dollars.
Trump vowed to slash 10 government regulations for every new one implemented if he wins the election in November.
Responding to the remarks by Trump, Musk—the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter)—said, “I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises.”
“No pay, no title, no recognition is needed,” Musk added in a post on X.
Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the Economic Club of New York on September 5, 2024, in New York City. During his speech, Trump shared a plan for Elon Musk to lead a “government efficiency commission.”
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Last month, Trump and Musk spoke during a streamed conversation on X, where the former president discussed a possible role for Musk if he was to win another term in the White House.
“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump said. “I need an Elon Musk—I need somebody that has a lot of strength and courage and smarts. I want to close up the Department of Education, move education back to the states.”
During their conversation, Musk also suggested a similar commission to Trump, prompting him to say, “I’d love it.”
Over the course of one election season, Trump and Musk—two of the world’s most influential figures—have gone from bitter rivals to unexpected allies. Musk previously described himself as a “moderate Democrat” and has criticized Trump in the past.
However, Musk issued a formal endorsement of Trump shortly after the assassination attempt on his life.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Presidents have attempted government reform in various ways over the years, including the National Partnership for Reinventing Government, launched during Bill Clinton‘s administration and led by then-Vice President Al Gore. The initiative sought to streamline the federal bureaucracy, reduce costs and make agencies more responsive to the public.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
