Trump says Musk could lead 'government efficiency force' Kayla Epstein and Natalie Sherman BBC News 5 September 2024 Donald Trump said he would enlist Elon Musk to run a “government efficiency commission” if he wins a second term as US president. Speaking to the Economic Club of New York on Thursday, Trump said the X owner had agreed to head a task force to conduct a “complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government” and make “recommendations for drastic reforms.” The two men have alluded to the idea for several weeks, but Thursday's comments were Trump’s most direct indication yet that he might want Mr Musk to play a role in his potential second administration. “I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises,” Mr Musk posted on X on Thursday morning. “No pay, no title, no recognition is needed.” Asked by the BBC if Trump and Mr Musk had formally agreed on a role on such a commission, campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes said that "It is premature to discuss any prospective personnel in the next administration, but we welcome the enthusiasm and support of Elon Musk.” The two have not always seen eye-to-eye, but Mr Musk and Trump have recently forged a friendlier public relationship during the 2024 US presidential election. The controversial tech billionaire endorsed the former president in July, after Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania, and has said he is contributing money to a fundraising group that supports the Republican's campaign. “I think we need a government efficiency commission to say like, ‘Hey, where are we spending money that’s sensible. Where is it not sensible?’” Mr Musk said during an online conversation with Trump on 13 August, which he hosted on X. “We need to live within our means.” A few days later, on 19 August, Mr Musk posted an apparently AI-generated image of himself at a podium labelled "Department of Government Efficiency” and declared in the caption, "I am willing to serve". Some internet users appreciated the hypothetical agency name as a joke, as the initials for the proposed task force spell "doge" – a long-running meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog which also inspired the name of a cryptocurrency. Trump's New York speech