WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� pushed debunked theories about on Monday while describing federal benefit programs as rife with fraud, suggesting they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending.
The billionaire entrepreneur, who is advising President , suggested that $500 billion to $700 billion in waste needed to be cut.
鈥淢ost of the federal spending is entitlements,鈥� Musk told the Fox Business Network. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the big one to eliminate.鈥�
The comments on the popular program and other benefits provided to Americans could rattle politicians on both sides of the aisle as Musk works to downsize the federal government, especially as he already faces blowback for to laying off workers and slashing programs.
Musk's estimate for the level of fraud in entitlements far outpaces figures from watchdogs like Social Security's inspector general, who previously said there was $71.8 billion in improper payments from fiscal years 2015 through 2022. That's less than 1% of benefits paid out during that time period.
Musk also said there were 鈥�20 million people who are definitely dead marked as alive in the Social Security database.鈥� However, the leader of the agency has about widespread payments to dead people.
"These individuals are not necessarily receiving benefits," said Lee Dudek, Social Security鈥檚 acting commissioner.
The interview with Fox Business was a reminder of Musk's deep skepticism and even hostility toward the program, which provides monthly benefits to retirees and some children. Trump has promised to defend Social Security from cuts, but Musk has described it as 鈥渢he biggest Ponzi scheme of all time,鈥� and the administration is some of the agency鈥檚 offices.
Musk said Monday that federal entitlements are 鈥渁 mechanism by which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to come here and then turning them into voters.鈥� The allegation echoed the , which claims that politicians are trying to expand their power by reshaping the country's racial demographics.
The interview was conducted in the White House complex by , who served as an economic adviser to Trump during his first term. During the conversation, Musk seemed to acknowledge the unusual nature of his role in the administration.
鈥淔rankly, I can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 here doing this," Musk said. "It's kind of bizarre.鈥�
Musk is the world鈥檚 richest person and still runs his private enterprises as he advises the president on ways to overhaul the federal government.
He also thanked Trump for his confidence, saying, "Without the president鈥檚 support, we couldn鈥檛 make any progress here.鈥�
Trump has publicly backed Musk and given him extraordinary influence over the federal government. However, the Republican president has indicated a shift in approach, saying that Musk's team would use a 鈥渟calpel鈥� rather than a 鈥渉atchet.鈥�
Musk has not often spoken publicly since joining the administration, preferring instead to present a stream of consciousness on X, his social media platform. On Monday, he accused Democrats of attacking Tesla dealerships; bragged about X being 鈥渢he top source for news on Earth;鈥� and accused Arizona Democratic Sen. , a former fighter pilot and astronaut, of being a traitor for visiting Ukraine over the weekend.
Musk's sitdown with Kudlow was his third interview since joining Trump's administration, and he hasn't strayed from his ideological safe space. He previously did a joint interview with the president and of Fox News, and he sat down with , a podcaster who endorsed Trump last year.
Republicans have spent decades trying to reduce the size and scope of the federal government, and many have cheered Musk's work.
鈥淭he American people are sick of the swamp. They鈥檙e sick of waste, fraud and abuse," of North Carolina, who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee. "For the first time ever, we finally have the tools to affect it. So I think the voters are going to reward us.鈥�
But there are signs of backlash and skepticism. Some Republicans have even boasted of blocking budget cuts.
Oklahoma Rep. issued a statement saying three federal offices in his state 鈥� the National Weather Center in Norman, the Social Security Administration Office in Lawton and the Indian Health Services Office in Oklahoma City 鈥� would stay open.
鈥淚 am thrilled to announce that common sense has prevailed,鈥� he said. Cole added that 鈥渁ll three of these places provide vital and valuable services to Oklahomans and I am so proud to have advocated for them.鈥�
About half of Americans said it鈥檚 鈥渁 bad thing鈥� that Trump has given Musk a prominent role in his administration, according to a mid-February CNN/SSRS poll. Only a third saw it as 鈥渁 good thing.鈥�
Another mid-February survey by The Washington Post and Ipsos found that Americans were divided on whether Musk is mainly cutting wasteful spending or necessary programs, with about a third falling into each camp. Another quarter said they weren鈥檛 sure.
Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
