Trump and Musk Showcase Strong Bond on Fox News: "Like Brothers"

First Joint Interview Since Inauguration
Drawing a Line on Musk Overreach Controversy
On Conflict of Interest Concerns: "Will Not Get Involved"

U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), appeared together for a Fox News interview on the 18th (local time). When President Trump called Musk a "great person," Musk responded with "I love him," showcasing their close relationship.

Fox News reported on the first joint interview between President Trump and CEO Musk. The interview, held last week at the White House, was hosted by conservative journalist Sean Hannity.

On the 11th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump (right) and Tesla CEO Elon Musk held a press conference in the White House Oval Office. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Recently, speculation has arisen that tensions between President Trump and CEO Musk are escalating amid controversies over Musk's overreach. However, they dispelled such rumors by displaying their friendship.

CEO Musk said, "I love President (Trump). I want to make that clear," adding, "President Trump has been unfairly attacked by the media. But I have never seen him do anything wrong."

President Trump repeatedly praised CEO Musk as a "great person." He also said, "He has tremendous and scientific imagination," and "He is a very good person who wants to see the country succeed." He mentioned that Musk brought smart young people dedicated to transforming the nation to the Department of Government Efficiency.

President Trump said, "Actually, Elon called me and said, 'They are trying to divide us,' and I replied, 'Of course.'" He added, "I used to think they (the media) were good at what they do, but they are not. If they were good, I would never have become president."

Host Sean Hannity described the interview as feeling like "interviewing two brothers."

CEO Musk wore a T-shirt labeled "tech support" during the interview, indicating his role as providing technical support. This seems to draw a line amid overreach controversies, such as the recent Time magazine cover featuring a photoshopped image of Musk sitting at the presidential desk of decision-making.

Musk, who runs multiple companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, is leading the Department of Government Efficiency, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. President Trump drew a line by saying he would "not get involved" if there were conflicts between Musk's advisory role and his business. Musk agreed, saying, "I have not asked the president for anything," and "If such a situation arises, I will step down myself."

Regarding cuts to electric vehicle subsidies, President Trump said, "Do the right thing where electric vehicle subsidies are being drastically cut," and Musk said, "They are cutting them," adding, "Reducing subsidies might make things better. He believes he thinks differently from others."

In response to recent criticism of the Department of Government Efficiency's work, CEO Musk emphasized, "If we were not doing useful work, they would not complain," and "What we really want to do is restore the will of the people through the president." He continued, "We discovered an unelected bureaucracy, that is, a huge federal bureaucracy that strongly opposes the president and the cabinet."

He added that the department's goal is "to remove $1 trillion from the deficit," warning, "If the deficit is not controlled, the United States will go bankrupt." He also criticized the previous Joe Biden administration for treating American taxpayers terribly, stating, "With higher competence and attention, the American people can be treated better."

President Trump said in the interview that the Department of Government Efficiency will reduce hundreds of billions of dollars wasted annually through fraud and other means in the federal budget. However, budget experts remain skeptical about the claim that hundreds of billions of dollars are wasted and defrauded every year, according to The Washington Post (WP).

He also mentioned the recent surge in inflation, saying, "I have only been in office for two and a half weeks," and "Inflation came back, and they said, 'Oh Trump.'" He added, "I have nothing to do with that," and "They (the Biden administration) spent money in ways no one has ever seen before. They threw $9 trillion out the window and spent it on the 'Green New Scam' (a critical term for the Biden administration's Green New Deal policy)."

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