Elon Musk defends US cuts as son X steals show in Oval Office appearance

Elon Musk made his debut public appearance with Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday to announce fresh powers to overhaul the US government – even if the tech tycoon’s son tried to steal the show.

Dressed in a black “Make America Great Again” cap, black T-shirt and overcoat, the SpaceX and Tesla tycoon spoke to reporters in the Oval Office while the US president sat behind the historic Resolute Desk.

Tasked by Trump to lead federal cost-cutting efforts through his “DOGE” agency – the so-called Department of Government Efficiency – Musk warned that the United States would go “bankrupt” without cuts.

The world’s richest man rejected criticisms of a lack of transparency and possible conflicts of interest. He admitted he would make “mistakes” but said he would be tackling what he called the power of an “unelected” bureaucracy.

Trump signed an order that was set to give DOGE extra powers to order the heads of government departments to prepare for more of the cuts that have shaken the United States.