While jokes have circulated online about Elon Musk being the “real” president of the United States, Donald Trump has officially clarified the tech mogul’s role within the federal government.
Despite a rocky start to their relationship, Trump and Musk grew closer during Trump’s 2024 campaign, ultimately landing Musk a significant role as a special government employee in the Department for Government Efficiency (DOGE).
This department is responsible for slashing government costs, modernizing federal technology, eliminating fraud, and reducing wasteful spending, while also boosting overall productivity. For example, a recent audit revealed the Air Force had been spending over $1,200 to replace each reheatable coffee cup.
Musk’s appointment has stirred controversy, with memes flooding the internet portraying him as the “president” and Trump as the “vice president.” Critics have raised concerns over his influence, questioning who’s truly steering the country, especially since no one actually voted for Musk.
In an exclusive interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News on Tuesday (February 18), Donald Trump and Elon Musk opened up about their friendship and Musk’s official role within the federal government.
The Tesla CEO jokingly downplayed his responsibilities, calling himself mere “tech support” for the president, complete with a black-and-white T-shirt sporting the phrase. However, Trump set the record straight, revealing that Musk’s true mission is to tackle government bureaucracy and simply “get it done.”
Trump, known for his fondness for executive orders, having signed dozens in the early days of his presidency, acknowledged delays in their implementation. That changed with Musk’s involvement, as the tech mogul reportedly streamlined the process with the help of his “100 geniuses.”
In reality, newly released White House documents reveal that Elon Musk, who is volunteering his time at the department, isn’t officially part of DOGE. According to AP reports, Musk merely holds the title of Senior Advisor to the President, a role that carries no formal authority to make government decisions.
Despite Trump’s earlier claims, Musk isn’t the key decision-maker at DOGE after all.
Still, during the Fox News interview, Trump joked that he chose Musk as his go-to advisor because he “couldn’t find anyone smarter.” The president even quipped that his team tried, and failed to find someone more intelligent than the SpaceX founder.
The friendly interview saw Trump and Musk exchanging compliments, prompting Sean Hannity to joke that it felt like he was “interviewing two brothers.”
So far, DOGE has cut billions in contracts from private firms previously awarded by the Education Department and the National Institutes of Health, aligning with Trump’s push to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Musk shared his perspective, saying, “I’m a technologist, and I try to create technologies that improve the world.”
Wearing a shirt that read “Tech Support,” Musk explained, “I’m here to provide the president with technology support. It might sound simple, but it’s actually crucial because executive orders, though well-intentioned and beneficial, often face delays in implementation.”
Musk also expressed his admiration for Trump, saying, “I love the president. I think President Trump is a good man.”
In return, Trump praised Musk as a “leader” and a “brilliant guy,” adding, “He’s got tremendous imagination, but more importantly, he’s a good person, a very good person.”
