Trump Heaps Praises On Musk — And The Billionaire Didn’t Even ‘Need’ The Job

<p data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>During his address to Congress on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump took a moment to commend billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk for his role in leading a newly formed government initiative focused on efficiency and streamlining federal operations.&nbsp;Trump acknowledged Musk&rsquo;s contributions to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an agency established under his administration to tackle bureaucratic inefficiencies and enhance the effectiveness of federal programs.</p>
<p data-pm-slice=”1 1 []”>While specifics regarding the department&rsquo;s agenda remain sparse, the initiative is expected to focus on identifying redundancies and optimising government operations.</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BREAKING</a> Trump asks Congress to applaud Musk and cost-cutting program <a href=”https://t.co/QuNAtVTBwA”>pic.twitter.com/QuNAtVTBwA</a></p>
&mdash; AFP News Agency (@AFP) <a href=”https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1897117521565901003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>March 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2><span style=”color: #ba372a;”><strong>’Thank You Elon'</strong></span></h2>
<p>The Tesla and SpaceX chief was seated in the gallery as Trump addressed lawmakers. As applause erupted from Republican members of Congress, the president directed his appreciation toward Musk.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Thank you Elon, he’s working very hard,&rdquo; Trump said, recognising Musk&rsquo;s efforts. As the entrepreneur stood to acknowledge the recognition, Trump further expressed his gratitude, adding, &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t need this. Thank you very much. We appreciate it.&rdquo;</p>
<h2><span style=”color: #ba372a;”>What Are DOGE’s Objectives? Not Decided Yet</span></h2>
<p>The Department of Government Efficiency marks a key component of Trump&rsquo;s broader efforts to overhaul federal operations and reduce bureaucratic red tape. Although the full scope of DOGE&rsquo;s objectives has yet to be outlined, the administration has signaled its intent to implement policies that ensure streamlined government functions.</p>
<p>Beyond his praise for Musk, Trump used his speech to highlight his administration&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening the domestic production of critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are vital to industries such as defense and technology. Calling the initiative &ldquo;historic action,&rdquo; he underscored the importance of reducing reliance on foreign supply chains for these crucial materials.</p>
<p>By tapping Musk for a government role, the Trump administration appears to be emphasising an approach that integrates private sector expertise into federal decision-making. The president&rsquo;s remarks reinforced that Musk&rsquo;s involvement was entirely voluntary, a point he reiterated by stating, &ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t need this.&rdquo;</p>