Elon Musk returned to public attention with his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience through a three-hour interview.
Many issues, including artificial intelligence, government spending practices, and problems with federal agencies, formed the foundation of the three-hour discussion. During the conversation, Musk asked his AI PM Grok for information about the remaining gold stores at Fort Knox yet received a response that bordered on the sarcastic. Grok replied sarcastically as he asked his boss Elon Musk whether the CEO had adopted conspiracy theory beliefs. The exchange about the U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox went viral as it inspired many memes and drew extensive internet discussion.
Elon Musk’s role in government and DOGE’s operations
Musk, now holding a key advisory role in the U.S. government, addressed questions about his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department has been making substantial budget cuts, though the exact scope of its operations remains unclear. When pressed for specifics, Musk explained that DOGE only makes recommendations, which the appropriate departments confirm.
The department’s employee information remains unclear. The DOGE initiative began with between 40 to 100 people according to Musk’s original claim but he avoided revealing its current employee numbers. The organization shows rapid growth, including taking on fresh recruits from ages 19 to young adults. The lawsuits against DOGE stem from doubts about its ability to access federal data but Elon Musk verified that all employees receive appropriate security authorizations during their recruitment process.
Claims of government fraud and social security issues
Musk also made bold claims about widespread fraud in government programs, particularly Social Security. He asserted that DOGE identified 20 million deceased individuals listed as alive in the system, with some allegedly receiving benefits. When questioned about specific numbers, Musk did not provide further details. The Social Security Administration later disputed these claims, stating that the figures referred to records without listed death dates rather than individuals actively receiving payments.
In another revelation, Musk alleged that FEMA had allocated $59 million to migrant housing, a claim he had previously shared on social media. While the funding had already been made public and approved by Congress, the post led to the dismissal of four FEMA officials allegedly connected to the allocation of hotel funding for migrants in New York City.
Trump, secret technology, and controversy
During the interview, Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration was a major point of discussion. President Donald Trump has praised Musk for his efforts with DOGE and even gave him a prominent role in his first Cabinet meeting. Musk called the administration’s approach revolutionary, highlighting its aggressive stance on government spending.
The conversation also discussed the possibility of private contractors hiding advanced propulsion technology. Musk dismissed the idea, stating he would be aware if such developments were concealed. However, he refrained from elaborating, leaving room for speculation.
One of the more controversial moments came when Rogan brought up accusations against Musk regarding a gesture he made during Trump’s inauguration celebration. Some critics compared it to a Nazi salute, especially after Musk posted Nazi-related puns on social media. Musk denied any wrongdoing, insisting the gesture was meant positively. He accused the media of distorting the narrative, calling it deliberate propaganda. Despite the controversy, Musk remained firm in his stance, adding to the ongoing political debate surrounding his role in the government.