In a surprising move, tech mogul and entrepreneur Elon Musk took to his X platform to reignite the conversation surrounding government inefficiencies by posting an unearthed video of former President Barack Obama. The video, originally from 2011, shows Obama unveiling a plan to reduce wasteful government spending—an initiative that sounds strikingly similar to Musk’s current push for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk’s tweet pointed out the similarities between the two efforts, with the caption: “Sounds exactly like DOGE.”
The timing of Musk’s post was significant, as it tapped into the ongoing debate about the efficiency of government programs and how to address the ballooning federal deficit. The video Musk shared showcased Obama speaking about the “Campaign to Cut Waste,” an initiative aimed at eliminating unnecessary government expenditures, including spending on projects that many considered frivolous. This effort, despite its good intentions, became part of a broader discourse about government accountability and the extent to which political promises to cut wasteful spending were effectively carried out.
In the video, Obama not only spoke of government inefficiencies but also joked about appointing then-Vice President Joe Biden to lead the campaign. The lighthearted comment, “Nobody messes with Joe,” seemed to emphasize the seriousness with which the Obama administration approached the task of reducing waste. However, while the video was humorous, the message was clear: government must be held accountable, and there should be no tolerance for wasteful spending, especially when American taxpayers are footing the bill.