At a rally held by former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York City, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk made a bold pledge to reduce government waste by trillions of dollars should Trump return to the White House in 2024.

Oct 5, 2024; Butler, PA, USA; Elon Musk joins former President Donald Trump on stage as Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa., on October 5, 2024. On July 13, 2024, a gunman fired eight rounds at the former president and Republican presidential nominee during a rally in Butler. Trump was grazed by a bullet in the attack, and Pennsylvania firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed as he tried to shield his family from the attack. Two other men were injured.. Mandatory Credit: Jasper Colt-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Musk, speaking to a packed arena, vowed to tackle what he characterized as excessive federal spending, drawing strong support from the audience.

“Your money is being wasted,” Musk told rally-goers. “And the Department of Government Efficiency is gonna fix that!” His remarks led to loud cheers from the crowd. Musk added, “We’re gonna get the government off your back and out of your pocketbook.”

Trump had previously proposed a government efficiency commission that would be spearheaded by Musk.

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The initiative, unofficially called the Department of Government Efficiency, or “D.O.G.E.,” gained traction after Trump’s endorsement.

Since then, the concept has spread widely on Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, with several accounts and posts dedicated to promoting the initiative.

Howard Lutnick, chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, introduced Musk at the rally and underscored the potential of the proposed D.O.G.E. department. “How much do you think we can rip out of this wasted $6.5 trillion Harris-Biden budget?” Lutnick asked Musk. “Well, I think we could do at least $2 trillion,” Musk replied, which led to chants of “E-lon! E-lon!” from the audience.

In a clip posted by popular X account “DogeDesigner,” which has nearly a million followers, Musk’s statements on cutting federal spending circulated widely, gaining attention online.

The rally marked Musk’s growing presence in the political sphere, aligning with Trump’s campaign to drastically reduce federal expenditures.

The Western Journal reported that Musk’s role, if Trump were elected, would potentially represent a seismic shift in government operations.

The report suggested that this approach would be met with resistance from entrenched interests within the so-called “deep state,” who might see their influence and financial benefits significantly reduced by such reforms.

The “deep state” concept, which is used by some to describe individuals within federal institutions who maintain influence regardless of elected leadership, has garnered attention due to the wealth generated within federal-connected areas.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the top 15 wealthiest counties in the U.S. by median household income include several located near Washington, D.C., indicating the financial influence held by federal institutions and those connected to them.

Five of the top ten wealthiest counties surround D.C., underscoring the wealth associated with proximity to the nation’s capital.

The Western Journal’s analysis argued that federal insiders who have benefited from high taxation and government spending may push back against Musk’s involvement, suggesting that drastic budget cuts could face significant opposition from those with vested interests in the current system.

“A transfer of wealth on that scale can only happen through criminal levels of confiscation. After all, people connected to the federal government can only get rich via taxation or inflationary spending,” the report stated, emphasizing how deeply some have profited from the government’s budget structure.

Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden was a part of his 2024 campaign events, focusing on issues like economic reform and challenging what he has called the “swamp” in Washington.

The event highlighted Trump’s and Musk’s shared aim to reform federal government spending, with Musk’s proposed role in the potential future administration drawing both enthusiasm and scrutiny.

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