Donald Trump announced on Thursday that if re-elected as U.S. president, he would appoint billionaire Elon Musk to lead an audit of government spending and implement drastic reforms. Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Trump said that Musk suggested forming a "government efficiency commission" tasked with conducting a comprehensive financial and performance audit of the federal government. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, would head this initiative.

Trump, known for his exaggerations, claimed the audit could save "trillions and trillions of dollars" and eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months. While Trump provided few specifics, he emphasized that this commission would present an action plan aimed at streamlining government operations.

Musk, who has previously supported Democratic candidates, has shifted his backing toward Trump, especially after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in July. Musk's vast business interests and outspoken personality have led to several clashes with regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which once mandated that his Twitter posts be vetted after tweets deemed "false and misleading."

The prospect of Musk leading a government audit raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given his companies' involvement in areas like space exploration and autonomous driving, which are subject to government oversight. Jordan Libowitz, spokesperson for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, noted that while Trump's proposal remains vague, Musk should recuse himself from decisions that could directly affect his businesses, particularly regarding government contracts with SpaceX or regulations affecting Tesla.

Additionally, if Musk were to take on this role, he would likely be required to disclose his financial holdings publicly under U.S. law, as government officials are obligated to do.

Despite the uncertainties, Trump's proposal underscores his focus on portraying himself as a candidate committed to shaking up the federal bureaucracy.

Donald Trump announced on Thursday that if re-elected as U.S. president, he would appoint billionaire Elon Musk to lead an audit of government spending and implement drastic reforms. Speaking at the Economic Club of New York, Trump said that Musk suggested forming a "government efficiency commission" tasked with conducting a comprehensive financial and performance audit of the federal government. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, would head this initiative.

Trump, known for his exaggerations, claimed the audit could save "trillions and trillions of dollars" and eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months. While Trump provided few specifics, he emphasized that this commission would present an action plan aimed at streamlining government operations.

Musk, who has previously supported Democratic candidates, has shifted his backing toward Trump, especially after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in July. Musk's vast business interests and outspoken personality have led to several clashes with regulators, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which once mandated that his Twitter posts be vetted after tweets deemed "false and misleading."

The prospect of Musk leading a government audit raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given his companies' involvement in areas like space exploration and autonomous driving, which are subject to government oversight. Jordan Libowitz, spokesperson for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, noted that while Trump's proposal remains vague, Musk should recuse himself from decisions that could directly affect his businesses, particularly regarding government contracts with SpaceX or regulations affecting Tesla.

Additionally, if Musk were to take on this role, he would likely be required to disclose his financial holdings publicly under U.S. law, as government officials are obligated to do.

Despite the uncertainties, Trump's proposal underscores his focus on portraying himself as a candidate committed to shaking up the federal bureaucracy.