Elon Musk made a surprise appearance at the White House, where he denied accusations of leading a “hostile takeover” of the U.S. government.

Standing alongside President Donald Trump, Musk defended his cost-cutting initiatives while addressing reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump signed an executive order granting Musk’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) greater authority to reduce the federal workforce.

This agency has faced criticism from Democrats for its lack of transparency and has been challenged in court.

Musk described the proposed government cuts as “common sense” and emphasized that they reflect the public’s demand for significant reform. “The people voted for major government reform, and that’s what they will get,” he stated.

Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have labeled the administration’s efforts as an “unelected shadow government” attempting a takeover.

Despite this, a recent poll indicated that many Americans support Musk’s spending cuts, though opinions vary on the extent of his influence.

The federal workforce reductions aim to address what Trump described as “fraud and abuse” in government spending, with estimates suggesting over $1 trillion in waste might be uncovered.

However, concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to Musk’s various business interests were raised during the press conference.

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The restructuring efforts have already led to significant changes, including the dismissal of the inspector general at USAID following critical reports about staff reductions.