The Blubber

Elon Musk has said, per MSNBC: “Most importantly, we have to reduce spending to live within our means... [and] involve some temporary hardship, but it will ensure long-term prosperity.”

During a virtual town hall on Friday, Elon Musk, whom Trump has promised to put in charge of “efficiency” for government agencies if elected, stated that Americans will have to endure “temporary hardship” if Trump takes office.

As Rolling Stone reported, Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, warned that if Trump wins and appoints him to a government role, addressing the national debt would involve significant sacrifices. In response to a question on "tackling the nation’s debt," Musk suggested changes to the tax code and noted that some Americans would experience financial strain. “Most importantly, we have to reduce spending to live within our means,” Musk said, adding that these measures would “involve some temporary hardship but ensure long-term prosperity.”

How long would this hardship last? Apparently, as long as Musk deems necessary. He hinted that his plans could face strong opposition, saying he would “balance the budget immediately,” but acknowledged, “Obviously, a lot of people who are taking advantage of government are going to be upset about that. I’ll probably need a lot of security, but it’s got to be done. And if it’s not done, we’ll just go bankrupt.”

The claim that the United States risks “going bankrupt” is unfounded, yet Musk seems to be bracing for backlash against austerity measures he hasn’t even implemented. When a plan is so drastic that its ultra-wealthy creator anticipates needing security, it’s likely to be met with widespread resistance. The notion of “you-must-suffer-for-your-country” has a troubling, authoritarian tone, especially since Musk — a billionaire who has greatly benefited from government programs — would likely not endure any personal hardship if his vision were enacted.

At Trump’s New York City rally over the weekend, Musk remarked that he could cut approximately 30% of the federal budget.

On Tuesday, Musk confirmed his view that Trump’s policies would cause economic strain if enacted. Responding on X to a user who speculated that there would be “an initial severe overreaction in the economy” and that “markets will tumble,” Musk replied, “Sounds about right.”