Name: 6 Takeaways From Donald Trump-Elon Musk Interview
Uploaded: 2025-02-19T14:32:32.000Z
Description: President Donald Trump and Elon Musk discussed waste, fraud, abuse, and more in a joint interview with Sean Hannity that aired on Feb. 18.

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

NTD Plus

News

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

Trump Has ‘Come to the End of His Rope’ on an Iran Deal: Analyst

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

Significant That US, Five Eyes Allies Issue Joint Statement Warning China-Espionage for First Time: Taylor Hathorn

Nikou Bani

Princeton Commemorates 37 Years Since Tiananmen Square Massacre

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Migrant Boat With 240 People Intercepted at Sea

4 Senate Republicans Join Democrats to Defeat the SAVE Act

Zelenskyy Invites Putin for Face-to-Face Talks to End War

Kimberly Hayek is a reporter for The Epoch Times. She covers California news and has worked as an editor and on scene at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2019 migrant caravan crisis.

Kimberly Hayek

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

World News

Americas

US Imposes Sanctions on Cuban Leader

Spencer Pratt ‘Has the Wind at His Back’ for LA Mayoral Primary: Democratic Strategist

'Willing to Kill on Industrial Scale’: Tiananmen Massacre Anniversary Illustrates CCP's Nature, Says Author

Dave Martin is NTD's Senior Sports Reporter and sports analyst. He also hosts "Data Hub" segments during NTD's special election coverage, "The Nation Decides."

Dave Martin

Brunson, Knicks Win Again With Late Comeback Over Spurs

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 5)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 4)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 3)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 2)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (June 1)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 29)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 28)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 27)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 26)

NTD Good Morning Full Broadcast (May 25)

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

State News

California

More Than 17,000 Under Evacuation Orders as Southern California Wildfire Threatens Homes

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

40,000 Ordered to Evacuate as Chemical Tank Leaks, Threatens Explosion in California

Video of US Fighter Jet Shooting Down UFO Over Lake Huron Emerges in New Pentagon Files

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

China News

Epoch Times Obtains Over 2,000 Unseen Tiananmen Square Photos on 37th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Government Sues Chick-fil-A Over Religious Rights

Sports News

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Champion, Dies at 41

Haika Mrema

Medical Plane Crash in New Mexico Mountains Kills 4, Sparks Wildfire

California Mayor Resigns, Will Plead Guilty to Acting as Chinese Agent

Jill McLaughlin is an award-winning journalist covering politics, environment, and statewide issues. She has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Oregon, Nevada, and New Mexico. Jill was born in Yosemite National Park and enjoys the majestic outdoors, traveling, golfing, and hiking.

Jill McLaughlin

Scott Pelley Fired by ’60 Minutes’ After Clash With Management

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Middle East

Iran

Trump Calls Iran's Response to Latest US Ceasefire Proposal 'Totally Unacceptable'

President Donald Trump and Elon Musk discussed waste, fraud, abuse, and more in a joint interview with Sean Hannity that aired on Feb. 18.

The world’s wealthiest man and the president of the United States defended the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), now facing political opposition and numerous lawsuits as it slashes government spending—including negative publicity for firing and then seeking to rehire key <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-doge-firings-trump-federal-916e6819104f04f44c345b7dde4904d5">nuclear weapons workers</a>.

Musk also sought to make it clear he stands with Trump and vice versa.

“I think President Trump is a good man,” the tech entrepreneur said.

Trump reciprocated, saying he “couldn’t find anyone smarter” than Musk to assist his administration.

Here are some takeaways from the joint interview on Fox News.
<h2>Musk Would Have Endorsed Trump Even Without Assassination Attempt</h2>
Musk, best known for his work with SpaceX, Tesla Motors, and other tech firms, publicly <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1812256998588662068">backed</a> Trump after an attempt on his life at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. But the tech titan’s support was apparently already in the cards.

During the Feb. 18 joint interview, Musk said that he was “going to do it anyway.” The assassination attempt, which claimed the life of Corey Comperatore, simply accelerated Musk’s timeline.

The president said he “didn’t know that” about Musk’s endorsement.

Musk went on to stump for the then-candidate. He also donated hundreds of millions to backing Trump.

Musk said his time with Trump deepened his appreciation of the president’s character—a point of contention for Trump’s critics, including some of the Republicans who contested him during the 2024 primary.

“Not once have I seen him do something that was mean or cruel or wrong,” Musk said.

Elon Musk speaks as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 11, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)


<h2>Trump, Musk Say They Are Not at Odds</h2>
The two men also talked about the publicity around their joint efforts, accusing the media of trying to fracture their relationship.

As DOGE was taking shape after Election Day, some news outlets reported that Musk’s ascendance was elevating him to a quasi-presidential role, a line of argument advanced by some Democrats.

Trump said Musk phoned him to say, “‘You know, they’re trying to drive us apart.’”

“It’s just so obvious. They’re so bad at it. 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,” he added.

Musk also affirmed his commitment to advancing, and not usurping, the elected president. He pointed out that his T-shirt read, “Tech Support.”

“I’m going to provide the president with technology support,” he said. “It’s a very important thing because the president will make these executive orders which are very sensible and good for the country, but then they don’t get implemented.”
<h2>Musk on DOGE-Related Conflicts of Interest: ‘I’ll Recuse Myself’</h2>
The interview also touched on potential conflicts of interest between Musk’s businesses and DOGE.

Many of the entrepreneur’s firms have benefited from extensive government support, from subsidies for Tesla’s electric vehicles to Pentagon contracts with SpaceX.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a critic of DOGE and Musk, mentioned those possible conflicts in an interview with The Epoch Times earlier on Feb. 18, saying they “ought to deeply trouble progressives.”

Hannity asked Trump about how his administration would handle potential cuts to such areas. Trump said Musk would be kept away from them.

Musk said he would steer clear of those minefields, too.

“I’ll recuse myself,” he said.
<h2>Musk, Trump Talk DOGE Workers</h2>
The wide-ranging interview repeatedly landed on the topic of DOGE’s employees, which include many engineers.

The president said that Musk “attracts a young, very smart type of person—I call them high-IQ individuals.”

“These guys are smart, and they love the country,” Trump added.

Musk said DOGE’s software engineers “could be earning millions of dollars a year instead of earning a small fraction of that as federal employees.”

Trump described the DOGErs as “very committed people.”

One DOGE aide in the Treasury Department resigned after reporting revealed his history of controversial online posts. Vice President JD Vance and Trump supported his rehiring, after which Musk announced he would be reinstated.

Former President Donald Trump (L) claps as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk prepares to depart after speaking at a campaign event at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pa., on Oct. 5, 2024. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)


<h2>Musk, Trump Discuss Bringing Astronauts Home</h2>
The trio also discussed a plan to accelerate the rescue of NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.

Initially slated for an eight-day mission, the pair have been stuck on the International Space Station (ISS) since June due to mechanical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft that would have taken them home.

Trump, in January, said he asked SpaceX CEO Musk to expedite their return.

NASA has since moved up a scheduled April return to March. Williams and Wilmore will come back to Earth after the SpaceX Crew-10 mission reaches the ISS.

In the Feb. 18 broadcast, Trump said the two “got left in space,” blaming his predecessor, former President Joe Biden.

Musk said the astronauts’ return “was postponed kind of to a ridiculous degree.”

“We don’t want to be complacent, but we have brought astronauts back from the space station many times before, and always with success,” he said.
<h2>On DOGE, $1 Trillion Floated</h2>
The pair also talked about just how much waste, fraud, and abuse they expect DOGE to identify.

The president said DOGE was pinpointing “billions—and it will be hundreds of billions—of dollars worth of fraud.”

He predicted Musk would identify $1 trillion in what Hannity called “waste, fraud, abuse, corruption,” adding that he believes that to be “a very small percentage” of that sort of suspect spending.

Musk did not dispute the trillion-dollar figure.

The technologist said that saving money for the American taxpayer “comes down to two things: competence and caring.”

“It stands to reason that if you don’t have competence and you don’t have caring, you’re going to get a terrible deal,” he said.

Trump said that government contracts are not whittled down by the kind of give-and-take common to private-sector negotiations.

“Everybody expects to be cut,” he said.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/6-takeaways-from-donald-trump-elon-musk-interview-5812559">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Politics

04_Top Stories

Management

Latest Clips

Nathan Worcester covers national politics for The Epoch Times and has also focused on energy and the environment. Nathan has written about everything from fusion energy and ESG to Biden's classified documents and international conservative politics. He lives and works in Chicago. Nathan can be reached at nathan.worcester@epochtimes.us

Nathan Worcester

02_Second Lead

Executive Branch

Donald Trump

DOGE

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.