Trump wanted ‘Smarter’ Leader for DOGE as White House clarifies Musk’s authority

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently revealed in an interview that he wanted to appoint someone "smarter" than Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, he was unable to find anyone better.

Speaking on Fox News with host Sean Hannity, Trump admitted that he searched everywhere but couldn’t find a more intelligent candidate. “I tried very hard, but I just couldn’t do it,” he said. In the end, he jokingly stated, “We settled on this guy,” referring to Musk.

White House on DOGE’s authority

The White House later clarified that DOGE does not have the legal authority to fire government employees. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that DOGE only serves as an advisor, and hiring or firing decisions remain with department heads.

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Meanwhile, some Democratic state attorneys general have accused Musk of using DOGE to eliminate jobs and gain access to confidential government data. However, a federal judge dismissed their request to block DOGE from firing workers or accessing data.

DOGE officials, including young hires, have been reviewing financial records and government expenses. The team claims to have saved taxpayers $55 billion and has also been assigned to examine the Pentagon’s budget.