Trump and Musk’s relationship is on the rocks. Could this make a difference?
Because Elon Musk finally owned up to his failures after vilifying Trump.
Musk Addresses DOGE’s Chainsaw Controversy
On Tuesday, Elon Musk, co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), acknowledged that his chainsaw-waving stunt at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2025 may have appeared insensitive to Americans concerned about federal spending cuts.
Responding to X user Jim Spradlin’s critique that the act lacked substance, Musk wrote, “Valid point. Milei gave me the chainsaw backstage and I ran with it, but, in retrospect, it lacked empathy.”
The chainsaw, handed to Musk by Argentine President Javier Milei, symbolized DOGE’s mission to slash government waste, a task force initiated by President Donald Trump’s January 2025 executive order to address federal inefficiency.
DOGE’s Reported Savings and Debt Ceiling Context
DOGE, led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, claims to have saved approximately $190 billion, though House Oversight Republicans estimate $180 billion based on internal briefings.
These savings aim to curb federal spending as the U.S. approaches a critical debt ceiling deadline.
The Congressional Research Service projects that the Treasury’s “extraordinary measures” will sustain government solvency only until mid-August or late September 2025.
Musk’s earlier X post argued that hitting the debt ceiling is “the only thing that will actually force the government to cut waste and fraud,” highlighting the urgency of DOGE’s work as Congress prepares for budget negotiations in September.
Legislative Efforts and Political Dynamics
House Republicans are advocating legislation to lock in DOGE’s spending cuts, aiming to prevent future Congresses from reversing them.
This push comes amid fiscal debates, with the debt ceiling looming as a key issue.
The Trump administration’s focus on reducing government expenditure aligns with other policy achievements, such as a reported 93.1% drop in illegal border crossings in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
However, tensions flared when Musk supported Rep. Thomas Massie’s opposition to a spending bill, prompting Trump to jokingly mention deporting Musk, a U.S. citizen.
