Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Elon Musk stated on Thursday the necessity to “eliminate entire agencies” from the U.S. government in his effort alongside President Trump to significantly reduce spending and overhaul government priorities.
During a video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Musk delivered an expansive overview of what he called the priorities of the Trump administration, which included numerous mentions of “thermonuclear warfare” and potential hazards posed by artificial intelligence.
Echoing comments he made on Tuesday in the Oval Office while the president was present, Musk remarked, “We are experiencing rule by bureaucracy rather than rule by the people – democracy.” He sported a black T-shirt that said: “Tech Support” and humorously claimed to be the “White House’s tech support,” referencing his profile on the social media platform X, which he owns.
“I believe it’s essential to delete entire agencies rather than leaving many behind,” Musk stated. “Unless we eradicate the roots of the problem, it’s simple for it to reemerge.”
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Although Musk has previously addressed the summit, his appearance on Thursday occurs as he has gained significant influence over various government areas with Mr. Trump’s support since taking the lead at the Department of Government Efficiency. This has included sidelining career officials, accessing confidential databases, and instigating a constitutional debate regarding presidential powers.
Musk’s new position adds more significance to his statements beyond his status as the world’s richest individual through his investments in SpaceX and Tesla.
Additionally, his words showed a more isolationist stance on American authority in the Middle East, particularly since the U.S. has engaged in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
“There has been considerable focus on USAID for instance,” Musk said, mentioning Mr. Trump’s efforts to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development. “There’s also the National Endowment for Democracy. But I’m like, ‘Okay. How much democracy have they truly fostered lately?'”
He remarked that the U.S. under Mr. Trump is “less concerned with meddling in other nations’ affairs.”
“There have been instances where the United States has been somewhat overbearing in international matters, which might resonate with certain audience members,” Musk noted, addressing the crowd in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms.
“Essentially, America ought to focus on its own affairs rather than pursuing regime changes worldwide,” he asserted.
He also highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to removing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, at one point associating it with AI.
“If hypothetically AI is developed with DEI as a priority, it could conclude that there are too many men in positions of power and eliminate them,” Musk suggested.
Regarding AI, Musk indicated that X’s newly enhanced AI chatbot, Grok 3, would be ready in approximately two weeks, describing it at one point as “somewhat terrifying.” He criticized Sam Altman’s leadership at OpenAI, which Musk recently bid $97.4 billion to acquire, likening it to a nonprofit designed to protect the Amazon rainforest morphing into a “lumber company that cuts down the trees.”
Musk also shared plans for a “Dubai Loop” initiative in alignment with his work at the Boring Company — which is constructing tunnels in Las Vegas to enhance transit. However, he and the Emirati official who joined him did not provide immediate details about the project.
“It’s going to feel like a wormhole,” Musk asserted. “You simply wormhole from one area of the city – boom – and you’ll emerge in another section of the city.”
