Washington — President Trump, in a information convention with the Japanese prime minister, indicated that Elon Musk could have extensive latitude to enter federal departments and businesses as he goals to slash federal spending by $2 trillion.
He mentioned he is requested Musk to overview “nearly” each federal company.
“Pentagon, Schooling, nearly every part,” the president mentioned. “We’re gonna undergo every part.”
Mr. Trump mentioned he tells Musk the place to go, and he goes to that company.
“I’ll pick a goal, and I say, ‘Go in,'” the president mentioned.
In response to a reporter’s query about why DOGE wants entry to Individuals’ private data, like financial institution accounts and Social Safety numbers, the president appeared to assist DOGE’s efforts whereas indicating that it didn’t want the information.
“Effectively, it does not, however they get it very simply, I imply we do not have excellent safety in our nation,” Mr. Trump mentioned. Nevertheless, DOGE has obtained entry to the knowledge due to the president’s orders permitting it, not due to a lapse in safety.
He added DOGE can be analyzing trillions in federal funds spent “maybe illegally.” He mentioned he is pleased with the job “this group of younger individuals” is doing.
The president weighed in on a DOGE employees member, Marco Elez, who resigned, based on the Wall Road Journal, which linked him to a now-defunct social media account expressing racist and eugenic views. The Journal discovered a put up from final July that learn, “Only for the document, I used to be racist earlier than it was cool.” In September, one other put up on X learn, “You can not pay me to marry outdoors of my ethnicity. Normalize Indian hate.” CBS Information has not confirmed the existence of the account or posts. The Journal mentioned that Elez didn’t reply to a number of requests for remark.
Vice President JD Vance, in response to a ballot on X, mentioned of Elez’s employment, “I clearly disagree with a few of Elez’s posts, however I do not suppose silly social media exercise ought to damage a child’s life. We should not reward journalists who attempt to destroy individuals. Ever. So I say deliver him again. If he is a nasty dude or a horrible member of the group, fireplace him for that.”
Mr. Trump mentioned he wasn’t conversant in the small print, but when Vance supported bringing the worker again, “I am with the vice chairman.”
Quickly after the information convention, Musk mentioned Elez can be rehired. “He can be introduced again,” he wrote on X. “To err is human, to forgive divine.”
The president was additionally requested whether or not he meant to fireplace the FBI brokers who labored on the investigations into the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
“No, however I will fireplace a few of them as a result of a few of them have been corrupt,” he replied.
Throughout the information convention, which adopted Mr. Trump’s assembly with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the president praised Ishiba and had heat phrases for the U.S.-Japan relationship, however nonetheless indicated that Japan can be topic to new tariffs.
“We will have tariffs, largely reciprocal tariffs,” Mr. Trump mentioned, and people can be introduced early subsequent week. “Very reciprocal, as a result of I feel that is the one honest option to do it. That manner no person’s damage,” he added, “versus a flat-fee tariff.”
The president additionally mentioned that Nippon Metal’s deal to purchase U.S. Metal can be restructured as an funding, fairly than an outright buy.
“They’ve agreed to take a position closely in U.S. Metal, versus personal it, and that sounds very thrilling,” the president mentioned. “And we’ll meet with Nissan subsequent week, the pinnacle of Nissan, very nice firm, and so they’ll work out the small print,” Trump mentioned (he appeared to have mentioned “Nissan,” although Nippon is the identify of the Japanese metal firm.
Ishiba mentioned that Japanese know-how can be supplied, and that “higher high quality merchandise can be manufactured in the USA.”
The president additionally introduced Japan can be taking in new shipments of American liquified pure gasoline or LNG “in document numbers.”
In his opening remarks, the president mentioned he is “assured that the cherished alliances between our two international locations and others additionally will proceed to flourish lengthy and into the long run.” He added, “The navy cooperation between the USA and Japan is certainly one of our closest safety partnerships, and it is one of many closest we have now wherever on this planet.”
Mr. Trump mentioned the 2 leaders spoke “lengthy and arduous” about their financial and commerce relationship and famous Japan’s outsized investments within the U.S. Mr. Trump mentioned Japan could have some “competitors,” as a result of different international locations are additionally wanting to put money into the U.S.
Ishiba, by a translator, mentioned their dialogue was “frank” and “productive.” The 2 leaders mentioned they’d concern a joint Japan-U.S. assertion, which might function a compass. “I sit up for working with President Trump, whom I respect immensely, to usher in a brand new golden age of Japan-U.S. relations,” the Japanese chief mentioned.
Trump and Japanese prime minister talk about U.S. Metal, tariffs, automotive points, nationwide safety
Earlier than the information convention, among the many prime points to come back up throughout Mr. Trump’s assembly with the Japanese prime minister was Nippon Metal’s deal to accumulate U.S. Metal, regardless of former President Joe Biden’s rejection of the merger and Mr. Trump’s earlier pledge to dam the deal.
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Photos
Mr. Trump advised reporters Friday he hadn’t modified his thoughts on U.S. Metal, however a number of sources mentioned earlier that he was contemplating permitting Nippon to finish its $14.1 billion acquisition. Mr. Trump advised reporters Friday that he and the Japanese prime minister can be discussing the U.S. metal deal.
Mr. Trump met with the CEO of U.S. Metal, David Burritt, on the White Home on Thursday. The Biden administration blocked the sale of U.S. Metal to Nippon Metal final month. U.S. Metal and Nippon Metal have filed lawsuits over the Biden administration’s determination to cease Nippon Metal from taking on its Pittsburgh-based rival firm.
“The USA is pleased with our lengthy and shut alliance with Japan, and it is time for a brand new age of U.S. Japan relations to deliver peace and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific,” a senior administration official advised reporters on a cellphone name. “Our two nations will proceed to work collectively to make sure we deter threats within the area by our full vary of navy capabilities.”
Mr. Trump’s look with the Japanese prime minister is his second assembly and joint press convention with a international chief this week. On Tuesday, Mr. Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and mentioned the U.S. needs to take management of and “personal” the Gaza Strip.
Aaron Navarro,
,
Jennifer Jacobs and
contributed to this report.
