In a pre-Super Bowl interview, President Donald Trump praised Elon Musk for his contributions to the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and doubled down on his administration’s efforts to dismantle USAID and potentially target the Department of Education next.
Speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier at Mar-a-Lago, Trump outlined his plans to tackle fraud and waste across government agencies and reflected on the differences between his current and first term in office.
Trump Trusts Elon Musk in Government Efficiency Role
President Trump emphasized his trust in Elon Musk, citing Musk’s commitment and independence as major assets. “He’s so into it,” Trump said, adding that Musk is “not gaining anything” from his role but has been instrumental in uncovering what the administration claims is widespread fraud within the government.
Trump revealed that Musk has played a key role in investigating USAID, the agency responsible for distributing U.S. humanitarian aid globally. Trump praised Musk’s swift actions and hinted that the Department of Education and even the military may be next on Musk’s list.
“I told [Musk] do that” about USAID, Trump said. “Then I’m going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education.”
Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle USAID
The Trump administration has moved to merge USAID with the State Department, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio overseeing the restructuring. Trump accused USAID of misusing hundreds of millions of dollars but did not provide specific examples.
“We’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars going to places where it shouldn’t be,” Trump said. “It’s a big scam.”
The effort to restructure USAID has led to significant upheaval:
- Chief of staff and two top security officials resigned after the agency blocked DOGE from accessing its systems.
- Musk’s statement on social media platform X, where he said “we’re shutting it down”, added to the chaos.
- USAID’s signage was removed from its D.C. headquarters last Friday.
- A federal judge blocked the administration from placing 2,200 USAID employees on administrative leave, arguing that Trump does not have the authority to dismantle the agency without Congressional approval.
Rubio assured foreign leaders that the U.S. would continue providing foreign aid, but aid recipients will be subject to more oversight and stricter accountability.
What’s Next? Targeting the Department of Education and Military
Trump signaled that after Musk’s work on USAID, the Department of Education and even the military would be investigated for fraud. “We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” he claimed.
Elon Musk’s Growing Influence in Government
Elon Musk’s role within the Department of Government Efficiency has given him substantial influence over Trump’s new approach to reducing waste. Musk’s involvement is expected to expand, particularly as Trump plans to target more federal agencies.
Trump Reflects on His First Term and Current Administration
Trump, who is only the second president in history to be elected to nonconsecutive terms, acknowledged that he faced tremendous opposition during his first term. He admitted that his lack of D.C. experience led to some poor appointments, but said his second term is benefiting from better support and more informed decision-making.
“I put people in office, some great, some really great ones, but I had some that I wouldn’t have put,” Trump said. “I was a New York person, not a D.C. person, and I had a lot of opposition.”
Super Bowl Appearance and Visit to New Orleans
Trump’s interview came just before his attendance at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, making him the first sitting president to attend the event. He stated that attending the game would be “good for the country” and bring a sense of unity.
The visit also included a meeting with the families of the victims of the New Year’s Day car-ramming attack, which left 14 dead.
With Elon Musk playing a key role, Trump’s second administration is moving aggressively to restructure key government agencies under the guise of eliminating fraud and inefficiency.
While the administration faces legal challenges over its authority to dismantle agencies like USAID, Trump seems determined to expand his oversight into more federal departments. Whether these efforts lead to tangible benefits or prolonged legal battles will be critical in shaping the legacy of Trump’s second term.
