Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has called for the elimination of several U.S. government agencies as part of President Donald Trump’s push to drastically reduce government spending and restructure its priorities.
Speaking via video at the World Government Summit in Dubai, Musk outlined what he described as key objectives of the Trump administration, frequently mentioning threats such as nuclear war and artificial intelligence (AI).
“We Need to Uproot the Bureaucracy”
Musk, dressed in a black T-shirt with the words “Tech Support,” joked that he was the “technical support of the White House,” referring to his profile name on his social media platform, X.
“I really think we need to delete entire agencies. If we don’t remove the roots of the weeds, they will grow back easily,” Musk said.
Since being appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) by Trump, Musk has tightened control over key areas of the U.S. government. His actions so far include the dismissal of career civil servants, gaining access to sensitive databases, and initiating a constitutional review of presidential powers.
Isolationist Foreign Policy and Government Downsizing
Musk’s remarks reflected a more isolationist stance on American influence in the Middle East, where the U.S. has waged wars in Afghanistan and Iraq since the September 11 attacks.
He specifically criticized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), pointing to Trump’s near-dismantling of the organization. He also questioned the effectiveness of the National Endowment for Democracy, asking, “How much democracy has this organization actually achieved lately?”
Under Trump, Musk claimed, the U.S. is “less interested in interfering in other countries’ affairs.” He added, “America should mind its own business instead of pushing for regime changes around the world.”
Diversity Policies and AI Risks
Musk also highlighted the administration’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in workplaces. He warned about AI systems designed with DEI principles, jokingly suggesting that an AI could determine that there are “too many men in power” and decide to eliminate them.
Additionally, Musk announced that his AI chatbot, Grok 3, would be ready within two weeks, describing it as “a little scary.” He also criticized OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s leadership, revealing that his recent $97.4 billion takeover bid for the company had been rejected.
With Musk’s growing influence in the Trump administration, his comments carry more weight than ever, signaling potential shifts in U.S. government policy and global engagement.
