By Chris Megerian
Washington (AP) – Elon Musk pushed theories about Social security On Monday, while they describe federal benefit programs as full of fraud, which suggests that they will be a primary target in his crusade to reduce government spending.
The billionaire entrepreneur, who advises President Donald Trumpsuggested that $ 500 billion to $ 700 billion in waste had to be reduced.
“Most federal expenses are rights,” Musk told the Fox Business Network. “That is the big one to eliminate.”
The comments about the popular program and other benefits that are provided to Americans can rattle on both sides of the aisles of the aisle while Musk works to reduce the federal government, especially because he is already confronted with recoil for his chainsaw-swinging approach To cover employees and cut off programs.
The estimate of Musk for the level of fraud in rights is aging many figures from watchdogs such as the Inspector General of Social Security, which previously said that there was $ 71.8 billion in incorrect payments from tax years 2015 to 2022. That is less than 1% of the benefits paid in that period.
Musk also said that there were “20 million people who were certainly marked dead as alive in the social security database.” However, the leader of the office has rejected claims About widespread payments to dead people.
“These persons do not necessarily receive benefits,” said Lee Dudek, acting social security commissioner.
The interview with Fox Business was a memory of Musk’s deep skepticism and even hostility to the program, which offers monthly benefits to pensioners and some children. Trump has promised to defend social security against spending cuts, but Musk has described it as “the biggest Ponzi schedule of all time”, and the administration is to block Some offices of the desk.
Musk said on Monday that federal rights ‘are a mechanism with which the Democrats attract and retain illegal immigrants by essentially paying them to get here and then turn them into voters’. The allegation echoed the “Great replacement” theoryHe claims that politicians try to expand their power by reforming the racial demography of the country.
The interview was held in the White House Complex through Larry Kudlowwho served as an economic adviser for Trump during his first term. During the conversation, Musk seemed to recognize the unusual nature of his role in the administration.
“To be honest, I can’t believe I’m doing here,” said Musk. “It’s a bit bizarre.”
Musk is the world’s richest person and still runs his private companies while advising the president on ways to revise the federal government.
He also thanked Trump for his confidence and said, “Without the president’s support, we could not make progress here.”
Trump has publicly supported Musk and gave him extraordinary influence on the federal government. The Republican president, however, has indicated a shift in approach and said that the Musk team would use a “scalpel” instead of an “ax”.
Musk has not often spoken publicly since he joined the administration, instead prefer a stream of consciousness on X, his social media platform. On Monday he accused Democrats of attacking Tesla dealers; Created that X is “the best source for news on earth”; and accused Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark KellyA former hunting pilot and astronaut, from a traitor for visiting Ukraine at the weekend.
Musk’s Sitdown with Kudlow was his third interview since he came to Trump’s administration, and he has not strayed his ideologically safe space. He previously did a joint interview with the president and Sean Hannity from Fox News, and he sat down Joe RoganA podcaster who endorsed Trump last year.
Republicans have tried to reduce the size and reach of the federal government for decades, and many have welcomed the work of Musk.
“The American people are sick of the swamp. They are sick of waste, fraud and abuse, ” said rep. Richard Hudson van North Carolina, who leads the National Republican Congress Committee. “For the first time we finally have the tools to influence this. So I think the voters will reward us. ‘
But there are signs of recoil and skepticism. Some Republicans have even talked about blocking cuts on the budget.
Oklahoma Rep. Tom Cole A statement issued that stated that three federal offices in its state – the National Weather Center in Norman, the Social Security Administration Office in Lawton and the Indian Health Services Office in Oklahoma City – would remain open.
“I am very happy to announce that common sense has prevailed,” he said. Cole added that “all three of these places offer essential and valuable services to Oklahomans and I am so proud to have argued for them.”
About half of the Americans said it is ‘a bad thing’ that Trump Musk has given a prominent role in his administration, according to a Mid-Febrari CNN/SSRS survey. Only a third saw it as ‘a good thing’.
Another Mid-Fbruari survey by the Washington Post and Ipsos showed that Americans were divided on whether Musk mainly cuts waste expenditure or necessary programs, with about a third in every camp. Another quarter said they didn’t know for sure.
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