New York, United States (AFP) – In a major announcement, Donald Trump declared on Thursday that if he is elected president in the upcoming 2024 elections, he will appoint billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk to lead a comprehensive audit and overhaul of federal government spending.
Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Trump revealed that Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, will be at the helm of a newly created government efficiency commission. This commission aims to conduct a thorough financial and performance audit of the entire federal government, identifying areas of waste and implementing “drastic” reforms.
Trump claimed that the initiative could potentially save “trillions and trillions of dollars,” emphasizing the scope and ambition of the proposed audit. “This commission will develop an action plan to totally eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months,” Trump said.
The announcement comes after Musk, who historically supported Democratic candidates, showed his backing for Trump following an assassination attempt on the former president at a July rally. Musk’s endorsement marks a significant shift, adding a high-profile, tech-savvy figure to Trump’s campaign efforts.
Musk, known for his ambitious and often contentious projects, has had several run-ins with regulators. Notably, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) mandated vetting for his social media posts following controversial tweets in 2018. Additionally, his ventures into autonomous driving technology and other innovations continue to face scrutiny from various government agencies.
With Trump’s announcement, the potential collaboration between the former president and Musk has drawn both intrigue and skepticism from political observers and the public. As the election approaches, the proposed government efficiency audit will likely become a focal point of Trump’s campaign strategy.
