Elon Musk sharply criticized a journalist with a brutal five-word reply after tough questions about DOGE’s daily $4 billion savings.
Elon Musk sparked controversy during the Qatar Economic Forum.
He responded with a biting remark to tough questions about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era initiative he helped launch.
The billionaire’s tense exchange with Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain went viral, attracting both criticism and support from the public.
The tension grew as Husain challenged Musk on contradictions between his DOGE promises and the department’s actual financial results.
DOGE savings fall short of lofty projections
Before DOGE started, Musk promised up to $2 trillion in taxpayer savings by 2026.
Soon after DOGE’s launch, Musk softened his stance, saying $1 trillion in savings was a more achievable goal.
So far, 122 days into DOGE’s official operation, the numbers fall far below expectations.
The department claims $170 billion saved, but analysts doubt this figure’s accuracy.
Elon Musk responds harshly to journalist who questioned DOGE’s ‘$4 billion per day’ savings
During the forum, Husain challenged Musk’s previous claims that DOGE was saving $4 billion per day.
Based on that rate, the department would still fall short of its trillion-dollar goal by a significant margin.
Instead of a direct answer, Musk delivered a peculiar rebuke.
“I feel you’re somewhat trapped in the NPC dialogue tree of a traditional journalist, so it’s difficult when I’m conversing with someone who’s trapped in the dialogue tree of a conventional journalist, because it’s like I’m talking to a computer,” Musk proclaimed.
The “NPC” comment quickly spread online, with some hailing it as witty and others labeling it condescending and evasive.
Advisory role highlighted amid mounting criticism
Despite the criticism, Musk defended DOGE’s track record, asserting that no other advisory group in U.S. history had performed better.
He emphasized the limited scope of his position, noting that DOGE does not possess legislative, executive, or judicial authority.
He also followed this up by claiming: “I don’t think any advisory group has done better in the history of advisory groups for the government.
Now, we do not make the laws, nor do we control the judiciary, nor do we control the executive branch.
We are simply advisers. In that context we’re doing very well.”
DOGE faces backlash for controversial cuts
Musk’s leadership at DOGE has drawn fire not just for unmet fiscal targets but also for drastic budget cuts.
USAID faced major cuts, with critics like Bill Gates warning of severe humanitarian impacts.
National security experts have also raised alarms after DOGE-backed staffing cuts at the Department of Energy reportedly undermined key safety operations.
Although DOGE claims its actions were intended to streamline government spending, the fallout suggests unintended consequences.
Reported savings far below initial promises
DOGE claims it has saved roughly $1,055 per U.S. taxpayer. But when compared to Musk’s original $2 trillion savings goal, this amount represents only a fraction, about 9%, of what was promised.
With 161 million taxpaying adults in the country, that target remains far out of reach.
Analysts say advisory groups usually don’t aim for huge financial goals. Musk’s bold claims made DOGE’s shortfall especially noticeable.
Trump administration distances from Musk’s performance
President Trump has acknowledged the structural limits of DOGE’s influence, signaling that Musk was never granted sweeping governmental control.
However, Trump has stayed mostly quiet about the department’s performance issues.
He may be cautious about fully distancing himself from Musk politically.
Musk’s time in government, while unconventional, has highlighted the challenges of integrating tech-world ambition with federal bureaucracy.