President Donald Trump addressed reporters at Mar-a-Lago, defending Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after questions about Musk’s role. Trump praised Musk as a “patriot” and downplayed concerns about his title, emphasizing DOGE’s recent findings of waste and fraud in government programs. He criticized the longstanding issues of inefficiency and fraud, referencing statistics about Social Security recipients. Trump also highlighted Musk’s recent access to sensitive financial data, including IRS operations, which has sparked concerns among critics about privacy violations. Despite Democratic opposition, Trump remains committed to Musk’s mission to tackle government waste, fraud, and abuse. A White House spokesman echoed Trump’s stance, emphasizing the need for direct oversight.

WATCH: