Former US President Donald Trump (2016-2021) and Republican candidate for the US presidency said on Thursday that if he returned to the White House he would create a government efficiency commission, adopting a policy idea presented by businessman Elon Musk, one of his closest allies in recent times, and which Musk himself will chair, according to Trump.
“I will establish a Government Efficiency Commission to conduct a comprehensive financial and performance audit of the entire federal government and make recommendations on the drastic reforms that must be implemented. We cannot continue as we are,” the Republican candidate told the Economic Club of New York.
Trump explained that the goal of the commission would be to identify ways to eliminate wasteful spending: “This commission will develop an action plan to completely eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months. This will save billions of dollars.”
Trump has described Musk, who Forbes says is the world’s richest person, as “a nice, smart guy” who knows what he’s “doing.” In this election, in which Trump will face Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in November, Musk has announced his support for the Republican tycoon.
In mid-August, Elon Musk interviewed Trump on his social network and suggested the presidential candidate form a commission that would treat government spending as a way to combat inflation. Musk had already said at the time that “he would be happy to contribute to such a commission” and today published in X that he hopes to “serve the United States if the opportunity arises” and that he does not need a salary, a title with the position or recognition.
Trump stressed from New York that Musk was already very busy with his businesses, but that the businessman had “agreed to come forward.” However, Musk’s companies, such as Tesla or SpaceX, could interfere with this position due to conflicts of interest, as they are regulated by several federal agencies.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is one of SpaceX’s largest customers. Tesla’s auto sales and energy businesses are subsidized by federal tax credits, and its social network X is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission.
Additionally, his brain implant company Neuralink is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In his speech, Trump also said the US must fight China to combat its massive electricity production to power artificial intelligence companies and that he would make his country the world capital of cryptocurrencies and bitcoin.
Trump also promised to cut the corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, but only “for companies that manufacture their products in the United States,” as well as increase tariffs on goods imported from abroad.
