1 week ago
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Elon Musk has called for the elimination of entire federal agencies in the United States, arguing that bureaucratic structures have overtaken democracy. Speaking via video call at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Musk outlined what he described as the priorities of President Donald Trump’s administration while raising concerns about artificial intelligence and global security threats, including “thermonuclear warfare.”
“We really have here rule of the bureaucracy as opposed to rule of the people—democracy,” Musk said, wearing a black T-shirt that read: “Tech Support.” He joked that he was acting as the White House’s “tech support,” referencing his profile on X, the social platform he owns.
“I think we do need to delete entire agencies as opposed to leave a lot of them behind,” he continued. “If we don’t remove the roots of the weed, then it’s easy for the weed to grow back.”
Musk’s comments carried significant weight as he has increasingly consolidated influence over key areas of government under Trump’s leadership. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency, he has sidelined career officials, gained access to sensitive databases, and contributed to ongoing constitutional debates over presidential authority.
His speech also reflected a shift in US foreign policy under Trump, particularly regarding the Middle East. He pointed to Trump’s dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and questioned the role of organisations like the National Endowment for Democracy. “Okay, well, how much democracy have they achieved lately?” he asked.
Musk stated that the US is “less interested in interfering with the affairs of other countries” and acknowledged that America had sometimes been “pushy in international affairs,” a sentiment that he suggested might resonate with his audience in the UAE, an autocratically ruled nation.
The billionaire also touched on the Trump administration’s moves to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, linking the issue to artificial intelligence. “If hypothetically, AI is designed for DEI, you know, diversity at all costs, it could decide that there are too many men in power and execute them,” he warned.
On AI, Musk revealed that X’s newly updated chatbot, Grok 3, would be ready in about two weeks, describing it as “kind of scary.” He also criticised OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, comparing OpenAI’s evolution to “a nonprofit aimed at saving the Amazon rainforest becoming a lumber company that chops down the trees.” Musk recently led a $97.4 billion takeover bid for OpenAI.
During his appearance, Musk announced plans for a “Dubai Loop” project in line with his work in the Boring Company, which has been building tunnel-based transit systems in Las Vegas. However, neither he nor the Emirati official speaking with him provided immediate details.
“It’s going to be like a wormhole,” Musk said. “You just wormhole from one part of the city—boom—and you’re out in another part of the city.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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