Donald Trump questioned Elon Musk's lofty DOGE promises asking aides if they were 'all bulls***': Report
WASHINGTON, DC: While President Donald Trump and Elon Musk maintained a friendly front during their final press appearance on Friday, May 30, a new report from The Wall Street Journal suggests a very different story was unfolding behind the scenes.
Sources within the Trump administration claim the president privately questioned the legitimacy of Musk’s lofty promises to save the government trillions through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Donald Trump reportedly questioned Elon Musk's promises to save the government trillions
According to a report by The WSJ, Donald Trump allegedly asked aides in recent weeks, “Was it all bulls**t?” — referencing Elon Musk’s bold claim that his DOGE initiative could save the government $2 trillion.
In reality, the program has only documented about $175 billion in savings, a figure critics argue is overstated when accounting for legal expenses and revenue losses tied to the initiative’s cuts.
Musk’s short-lived tenure as a special government employee officially ended on May 30.
In a press briefing on Friday, Musk expressed “confidence” that DOGE’s cost-cutting efforts could still save the government upward of $1 trillion in the coming years even though his time leading the initiative had come to an end.
Despite presenting the tech billionaire with a symbolic “Key to the White House” and praising his work during their joint farewell appearance, insiders told the WSJ that Trump had begun showing “flashes of skepticism and frustration” toward him.
The report notes that Musk’s secretive leadership style, including withholding information from senior officials and publicly criticizing key staff, led to increasing White House discomfort.
The 53-year-old apparently stirred controversy by throwing jabs at trade adviser Peter Navarro, cutting into Cabinet meetings to vent about how government decisions were hurting his businesses, and pushing back behind the scenes against Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, warning they’d be “terrible for the global economy.”
Complicating matters further were allegations that Musk clashed with Trump over trade policy and foreign affairs, including his push for Pentagon intelligence briefings on China and his outcry over a Saudi deal involving business rival Sam Altman. Trump reportedly delayed the announcement of the Saudi partnership and removed Altman from the event to mollify Musk.
Elon Musk criticized Donald Trump’s 'big, beautiful bill' before White House exit
As Elon Musk prepared to exit his short-lived role in the Donald Trump administration, the Tesla CEO didn’t hold back his criticism of the president’s latest legislative win.
In a candid interview on 'CBS Sunday Morning', Musk voiced disappointment in what has been dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” calling it a financial step backward.
“I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it,” Musk said. “It undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
The DOGE initiative was Musk’s brainchild, aimed at slashing federal spending. Though it claimed to cut $175 billion in costs, Musk argued the new spending plan undoes much of that progress.
“I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both,” he said.
Internet reacts as report claims Donald Trump questioned Elon Musk's lofty promises
Alleged doubts expressed by Donald Trump about Elon Musk’s claims of improving government efficiency have ignited a storm of reactions online, with many users weighing in on the evolving dynamic between the former president and the tech billionaire.
One claimed, “Musk had no intention of saving money, it was all about getting data," and another said, “Trump can't stand not being the center of attention.”
Some users were sharply critical of Musk’s influence, accusing him of contributing to national instability, with a person writing, “Musk helped destroy this country in only 130 long days.”
Others turned their frustration toward both men, as a comment read, “Yes they are all bullsh*t. He stole all of America’s data, has no allegiance to this country, and stopped the investigations into his companies that would cost billions. Trump was duped while Musk ruined his brand.”
“With Trumpy's ego there is only room for one, so Musk had to go. Remember Trump is loyal to no one. NO ONE. EVER!!” an individual commented.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
