In a bold move to slash federal waste, President Donald Trump admitted he searched high and low for someone “smarter” than Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Turns out, that person doesn’t exist, as reported by The New York Post.
During an exclusive sit-down interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump explained his decision to put Musk in charge of the administration’s most aggressive cost-cutting initiative yet. With Musk seated beside him, Trump made his reasoning clear.
“You know, I wanted to find somebody smarter than him,” Trump told Hannity.
“I searched all over. I just couldn’t do it. I really tried hard. I couldn’t find anyone smarter.”
Dennis Quaid’s #1 Warning for Americans
The two shared a lighthearted exchange, with Trump joking that they “settled” on the billionaire, who has already implemented billions in savings by eliminating bureaucratic bloat.
‘I wanted to find somebody smarter than him, but I just couldn’t do it. So, for the country, we settled on Elon’ – President Trump. pic.twitter.com/M9kXGevADq
— (@NoiseAlerts) February 19, 2025
100% FREE Gun Law Map CLICK HERE
Since taking charge of DOGE, Musk has wasted no time cutting down government excess. The department has already identified tens of billions in savings, slashing unnecessary spending across federal agencies. Here’s a breakdown of some of the biggest cost-saving moves so far:
- Dept. of Homeland Security – $8,164,242,813
- Agency for International Development – $6,541,505,466
- Dept. of Education – $1,093,628,949
- General Services Administration – $197,423,082
- Dept. of Agriculture – $173,077,305
- Dept. of Health and Human Services – $155,126,548
- Dept. of Commerce – $119,337,295
- Environmental Protection Agency – $45,624,626
- Office of Personnel Management – $27,659,209
- Dept. of Housing and Urban Development – $25,049,711
These numbers, compiled from contract and real estate cancellations reported on DOGE’s official site, reflect a deep commitment to fiscal responsibility.
Trump emphasized that his second-term mission revolves around staffing his administration with the best and brightest. He pointed to Musk as a prime example, calling him a “great person” and “an amazing person” who fights for the country’s best interests.
MORE NEWS: Schumer Melts Down as GOP Senate Pushes Budget Despite Trump Endorsing House Bill [WATCH]
Trump stated:
“He’s a good person, a very good person, and he wants to see the country to do well.”
He assured Americans that Musk’s private-sector interests would not interfere with his role at DOGE. “If there’s a conflict, he won’t be involved. I mean, I wouldn’t want that, and he wouldn’t want it.”
Musk’s cost-cutting measures haven’t gone unnoticed—or unchallenged. Democrat-led states recently tried to block DOGE from downsizing federal agencies, but their bid was shot down by Judge Tanya Chutkan, dealing a blow to the bureaucratic establishment.
NEW: Trump says Musk stands out as one of the smartest and most patriotic businessmen he knows.
“He’s a very different kind of a character.”
“I know a lot of great business people, really great business people, but, you know, they’re not really, in some cases, very good people.… pic.twitter.com/ah7IR69jUH
— The Vigilant Fox (@VigilantFox) February 19, 2025
DOGE has already made deep cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Agriculture.
MORE NEWS: Pete Hegseth Delivers Message To The American Warfighter, And The American Tax Payer [WATCH]
But Musk’s work is far from over. Trump has now directed his team of “super geniuses” to take a hard look at the Pentagon’s bloated budget as well.
Musk, who aims to cut $1 trillion in federal waste, views Trump’s presidency as an opportunity to “fix the system.” While he acknowledges that the government’s inefficiency won’t be solved overnight, he remains focused on making taxpayer dollars work smarter, not harder.
“When the president was shown the outrageous bill for the new Air Force One, and then negotiated it down, if the president had not applied competence and caring, the price would have been 50% higher — literally 50% higher.”
With an estimated $55 billion already saved through DOGE’s efforts, the administration has only scratched the surface of its plan to drain the bureaucratic swamp.
One thing is certain—Musk’s presence in the federal government has sent shockwaves through Washington, and the status quo is officially on notice.
100% FREE Gun Law Map CLICK HERE
The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of RVM News. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.