At Trump's Cabinet meet, Elon Musk claims getting ‘lot of death threats’

Elon Musk made heads turn with his presence at Trump's first Cabinet meeting. He is neither a Cabinet member nor elected to office.

Published on: Feb 27, 2025, 09:33:02 IST

By HT News Desk

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Elon Musk, the co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has claimed to have received a “lot of death threats” over his work that involved hundreds of people losing their jobs.

Elon Musk shows off his t-shirt reading "Tech Support" while speaking at the first cabinet meeting hosted by US President Donald Trump, at the White House in Washington DC. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

The billionaire made heads turn with his presence at Trump's first Cabinet meeting. He is neither a Cabinet member nor elected to office.

“We spend a lot on the Defence Department. We spend over $1 trillion on interest. If this continues, the country will become de facto bankrupt. It's not an optional thing. It is essential. That's the reason I am here. I am taking a lot of flak, and getting a lot of death threats,” CNN quoted Musk, donning a T-Shirt that said 'tech support' and a cap that said 'Make America Great Again', a tagline used by Republicans.

“President Trump has put together the best Cabinet ever. And I do not give false praise. This is an incredible group of people. I don't think such a talented team has ever been assembled,” Musk said.

ALSO READ: ‘When we make mistakes, we will…’: Elon Musk admits DOGE ‘accidentally’ cut Ebola prevention funding

Musk is not a cabinet-level official -- and faced no approval by the US Senate -- and the White House has claimed in court papers that he is not in charge of DOGE, even though Trump has said he is and Musk aides staff DOGE.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk's DOGE to ‘No NATO’ for Ukraine: Key takeaways from Donald Trump's first cabinet meet

Trump backs Elon Musk's efforts

Trump said that some members of his Cabinet "disagree a little bit" with Elon Musk.

"Anybody unhappy with Elon? If you are, then we'll throw them out of here," Trump said, prompting varying levels of applause from the Cabinet members seated around the table in the Cabinet Room.

Trump had signed an executive order directing agencies to work with DOGE to review and terminate all "unnecessary" contracts and instructing the General Services Administration, which manages the government's real estate, to create a plan for disposing of any unneeded property.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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