Donald Trump and his wealthiest supporter, billionaire Elon Musk, showered each other with praise during a Fox News interview, where both accused critical media outlets of trying to drive a wedge between them.
During their joint interview at the White House, the two spoke so fondly of one another that the host, Sean Hannity, remarked, “I feel like I’m interviewing two brothers here.”
They presented a united front against allegations that Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (Doge) — which has significantly altered aspects of the federal bureaucracy in an effort to uncover “waste, fraud, and corruption” — violates the US Constitution, asserting that their detractors are the ones in the wrong.
The duo also laughed off concerns regarding the potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s substantial government contracts through his ownership of firms like SpaceX and Tesla, which critics argue could bias federal spending in his favor.
When Hannity asked how he would manage a potential conflict of interest, Trump replied, “He wouldn’t be involved.” Musk added, “I’ll recuse myself. I mean, I haven’t asked the president for anything, ever.”
This interview followed a wave of criticism highlighting Musk’s visible role in Trump’s administration, including claims from opponents that he was overstepping presidential authority, even earning the moniker “President Musk” in some media outlets, including Time magazine.
In response to speculations of growing tensions, thought to be fueled by Trump’s known reluctance to share the spotlight, both men emphasized their unwavering loyalty to each other.
“I love the president, I just want to be clear about that,” Musk stated. “I think President Trump is a good man. The president has been so unfairly attacked in the media; it’s really outrageous.”
Trump also praised Musk, repeatedly calling him “caring” and “amazing,” culminating in a heartfelt testimonial towards the interview’s conclusion.
“This guy’s a brilliant guy. He’s a great guy. He’s got tremendous scientific imagination,” the president expressed, with Musk seated beside him. “But he’s also a good person. He’s a very good person, and he wants to see the country do well.”
Trump noted Musk’s contribution as “tech support” to his administration, highlighting his role in facilitating the execution of numerous executive orders signed since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, despite many facing legal challenges and being stalled by court decisions.
According to Trump, Musk also brought in “high IQ” young talent to his Doge team, committed to transforming the nation.
The duo ridiculed media rumors predicting a contentious split in their alliance.
“Actually, Elon called me and said, you know, they’re trying to drive us apart,” Trump explained. He continued, “Now they said: ‘We have breaking news. Donald Trump has ceded control of the presidency to Elon Musk.’ And I say it’s just so obvious, so bad. I used to think they were good at it. They’re actually bad at it because if they were good at it, I’d never be president – because nobody in history has ever received more bad publicity than I’ve had.”
He forecast that Musk could eliminate $1 trillion of government spending, yet remarked it would only constitute a fraction of the existing waste and fraud. Essential programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would remain unaffected—except in situations involving “illegal migrants.” (Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for these benefits).
