Trump defends Musk and says Doge will look at military spending
President Donald Trump has defended Elon Musk’s efforts to shut down parts of the U.S. government, despite legal challenges, transparency concerns, and potential conflicts of interest.
“He’s not gaining anything. I wonder how he finds the time for it,” Trump said on Sunday.
Democrats have accused Musk of personally benefiting from certain policy changes the Trump administration is pursuing, such as the proposed closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Trump stated that Musk’s unofficial “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) would soon scrutinize military and Department of Education spending, possibly within the next 24 hours.
“Let’s take a look at the military,” Trump said. “We’re going to uncover billions, even hundreds of billions, in fraud and waste—this is what people elected me to do.”
Earlier on Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News he welcomed Doge’s scrutiny of military expenditures.
“When we spend money, we need to know where it’s going and why. That level of oversight has been lacking at the Department of Defense,” Hegseth said.
Trump’s remarks about Musk and Doge were made during an interview with Fox News journalist Bret Baier, which aired as part of the Super Bowl pre-game coverage.
During the interview, Trump also expressed dissatisfaction with Mexico and Canada’s actions regarding illegal drugs and border security.
Additionally, he reiterated his serious consideration of a proposal to make Canada the 51st U.S. state—an idea overwhelmingly opposed by Canadians.
Since Trump took office, Doge employees have entered multiple government departments, spearheading efforts to shut down USAID.
In recent days, some Doge staffers have been spotted at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – an agency set up to protect consumers in the wake of the 2007-8 financial crisis.
CFPB employees in the bureau’s Washington office have been told to work from home for at least a week, according to an email seen by BBC News.
However, Trump’s opponents have filed legal challenges to try to halt some of the changes and several of the president’s executive orders.
On Saturday, a federal judge blocked Doge from accessing the personal financial data of millions of Americans held in Treasury Department records.
US District Judge Paul Engelmayer ordered Musk and his team to immediately destroy any copies of records.
The Trump administration has not responded to requests about Doge’s activities, funding, or the number of people it employs.
Courts have also paused Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship, a plan to put thousands of USAID staff on leave, and a large buyout offer to federal employees.
Republicans including Vice President JD Vance criticised Engelmayer’s ruling. Vance alleged the injunction was illegal and wrote on X: “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
Alina Habba, a Trump aide, told Fox News earlier Sunday that there would be “repercussions for people” trying to “step in Trump’s way”.
Democrats meanwhile stepped up their criticism of Musk and Trump, but with Republicans in control of the White House and Congress, they have little leverage outside of legal action.
“Our courts are working as they should,” Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar told CBS’s Face the Nation. “What is not working is the way that the executive branch is behaving.”
Democratic Senator Chris Murphy says Musk “stands to gain from the closure of USAID”.
“It makes America much less safe around the world, but it helps China,” Murphy told ABC News. “Elon Musk has many major business interests at stake inside Beijing.”
Murphy called the Trump administration’s actions “the most serious constitutional crisis” since the Watergate scandal.
“The president is attempting to seize control of power and for corrupt purposes,” he claimed.
Trump’s interview restarted a tradition dating back about 20 years. The presidential interview has been absent from the Super Bowl pre-game for the last two editions after former President Joe Biden twice declined to appear.
President Trump himself refused to talk to NBC in 2018. This year he becomes the first US president to watch the game in person.
Fox News anchor Baier asked Trump about the differences between his second presidency and taking office for the first time in 2017.
“I had tremendous opposition [last time], but I didn’t know people and I didn’t have the kind of support I needed,” Trump said. “I was a New York person, not a [Washington] DC person.”
In response to a question about Canada, Trump said US trade deficits would justify annexation.
“I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state because we lose $200bn a year with Canada. And I’m not going to let that happen. It’s too much,” he said. “Now, if they’re a 51st state, I don’t mind doing it.”
Administration officials have previously said the figure of $200bn includes both defense spending and the US trade deficit.
When asked if Canada and Mexico had satisfied the demands that led to tariff threats, Trump responded: “No, it’s not good enough. Something has to happen, it’s not sustainable.”
The president praised both Super Bowl teams and ultimately picked Kansas City to win the championship.
