In a Super Bowl interview, President Trump praised Elon Musk’s role in government efficiency, calling him “terrific” and expressing full confidence in his efforts to reform federal spending.
President Trump Defends His First Three Weeks Back in the White House
During an interview with FOX News Channel’s Bret Baier on Super Bowl Sunday, President Donald Trump defended his actions in the first three weeks of his second term in the White House, emphasizing government restructuring and American expansionism as key priorities.
Elon Musk Assigned a Special Role
One of Trump’s most significant decisions in his second term was appointing billionaire Elon Musk to head the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which focuses on cutting federal spending.
“Elon Musk has been a great help; he’s been terrific,” Trump said. The interview, which was pre-recorded, aired as Trump flew to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl, making him the first sitting U.S. president to be present at the event in person.
Controversy Over Musk’s Government Access
Now a special government official, Musk was granted broad access to federal departments and sensitive information, including Social Security and bank account data. However, on Saturday, a federal judge issued a temporary order blocking DOGE’s access to the Treasury Department. This came after a lawsuit filed by 19 Democratic attorneys general, who argued that unrestricted access could lead to irreparable harm.
In response, Trump strongly disagreed with the ruling, stating, “I 100% disagree with it. It’s ridiculous. We need to fix the efficiency problem.”
Trump’s Confidence in Musk
When asked if he trusted Musk with such authority, Trump said, “Trust Elon? Look, he’s not benefiting from this. In fact, I wonder how he even finds the time for it. He’s fully committed.”
With Trump’s backing, Musk and the DOGE unit have made drastic cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and vowed to shut it down completely. However, a court temporarily blocked the shutdown on Friday.
Trump revealed that he has now instructed Musk and his team to investigate the Departments of Education and Defense next.
“We’re going to uncover billions, even hundreds of billions, of fraud and waste,” Trump stated. “That’s why people elected me.”
Trump’s Expansionist Vision
During his inauguration speech, Trump pledged to pursue “Manifest Destiny into the stars”, aiming to send astronauts to Mars. In the following weeks, he also floated the idea of buying Greenland, making Canada the 51st state, reclaiming the Panama Canal, and taking control of Gaza, all while leaving open the possibility of using U.S. military forces if necessary.
During his FOX News interview, Trump reaffirmed his desire to annex Canada, stating, “I think Canada would be much better off as the 51st state. We lose $200 billion a year with Canada.”
Last week, Trump threatened heavy tariffs on Mexico and Canada but delayed them for 30 days after both countries agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to secure the U.S. border. On Sunday, however, he made it clear that the tariffs were inevitable.
“No, it’s not good enough,” Trump said. “It’s not sustainable, and I’m changing it.”
Trump’s Trade and Tariff Policies
While traveling to New Orleans on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that he will impose a 25% tariff on aluminum and steel imports starting Monday. Additionally, he announced plans to introduce reciprocal tariffs on all countries by Tuesday or Wednesday.
“If they charge us, we charge them. That’s it. Every country will be treated the same way,” Trump explained.
He also reaffirmed his intent for the U.S. to take control of Gaza.
Trump’s Presence at the Super Bowl
Trump’s interview aired just hours before kickoff at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“I thought it would be good for the country to have the president attend the game,” he said about his decision to be there in person.
When asked which team he expected to win, Trump backed the Kansas City Chiefs, citing quarterback Patrick Mahomes as a key factor.
“When a quarterback wins as much as he has, you have to go with Kansas City,” he said. “At the same time, Philadelphia is a fantastic team. It’s going to be a great game.”
Trump and NFL Controversies
Trump also referenced his past disputes with the NFL, including his 2018 decision to disinvite the Philadelphia Eagles from the White House after they refused to guarantee that all players would stand with their hand on their heart during the national anthem.
Trump has long been critical of NFL players kneeling during the anthem as a form of protest against racial injustice, a movement started by Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
His Super Bowl appearance coincides with the NFL’s decision to remove “End Racism” slogans from the end zones, replacing them with “Choose Love” for the game.
“We need to come together,” Trump said on Sunday. “And the only thing that will make that happen is massive success. Success will unite the country, but it won’t be easy.”
