President Donald Trump has raised the idea that Elon Musk’s government efficiency will return some of the savings he has recovered to US citizens, and the same amount will pay off federal debt.
“We consider a new concept that gives American citizens 20% savings, 20% of the figures will be incredibly repaying debt,” Trump said.
Trump made his remarks at an event in Miami Beach, Florida. The day after Musk showed Trump to ask “Doge dividends” on X, he said it was described as a tax refund check raised from the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle parts of the federal government. government.
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Musk attended the event and sat near White House staff member Susie Wills, national security adviser Mike Waltz and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Trump appeared to confirm with Air Force 1 reporters that the idea of a “20% dividend” came from Musk.
“I love it,” Trump said Wednesday night when he was asked about the proposal. Reporters characterized it as a mask proposal. “A 20% dividend, so to speak, for money that saves by chasing waste, fraud, abuse, etc., all the other things happening. I think that’s a great idea.”
Earlier in the evening, Trump suggested that the proposal to eliminate savings for American citizens could provide an incentive to report “waste” to people themselves.
“By doing this, Americans will tell you where the waste is. They report it themselves. They are involved in the money-saving process,” he says. Ta.
Trump did not provide details on how such a plan would come to fruition or how the other 60% of Doge’s savings would be used.
A Doge spokesman did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
It is unclear exactly how much Doge has eliminated or restored, especially despite Musk’s persistent pledge to transparency.
Doge said it saved $55 billion on its website and refers to dramatic cuts to the International Development Agency, the Education Division and the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.
However, some of Musk’s claims about Doge’s work have not been postponed under scrutiny. On Monday, Doge said it had recovered $8 billion worth of savings from a cancelled contract with the Department of Homeland Security. A thorough analysis revealed that the figure was $8 million.
Musk admits that his team is making mistakes.
“We make mistakes, but we’ll act quickly to correct the mistakes,” he said at a White House press conference this month.
Musk initially said Doge would find $2 trillion in savings, but he retreated that number last month.
