Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ Look A Sign Of His Potential Role In Trump’s Efficiency Committee?

Donald Trump has announced a bold plan to form a “government efficiency” panel led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, should he be elected as US President. Speaking at the New York Economic Club on Thursday, Trump outlined his economic vision and confirmed that Musk has agreed to lead this panel if Trump wins in November. Musk, meanwhile, it seems has already embraced this role with characteristic flair, playfully promoting it on X (formerly Twitter) as the “Department of Government Efficiency,” or D.O.G.E, which also nods to the meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin. Although DOGE is unlikely to have a formal position, Musk continues to use his platform to highlight Dogecoin in his signature style.

Musk also shared an AI-generated image of himself with the nameplate ‘D.O.G.E.’ In the image he is seen wearing oversized black sunglasses, a gold chain and a leather jacket, exuding a bold and stylish flair.

Earlier in August, Musk had shared another AI-generated image of himself where he exudes a bold and commanding presence. The image prominently features the designation D.O.G.E., as well as ‘Department of Government Efficiency.’ Musk had captioned the image, “I am willing to serve,” emphasising his readiness for the role.

Musk’s August photo was shared during a discussion about “government efficiency” with Trump on X, while the September image was posted following Trump’s renewed endorsement of Musk’s proposed position. This recent post has garnered 13 million views.

Earlier, Musk had also responded to a playful post on X on news of Trump offering him a cabinet position if re-elected. The post humorously suggested the role be named “Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE),” to which Musk reshared it with the comment, “Perfect name.”

The growing relationship between Musk, the world’s richest man, and Trump reflects his shift towards the right. Politico reported that Musk’s businesses have reaped significant government funding, with Tesla receiving over 13% of the EV charging grants under President Joe Biden’s infrastructure programme. Additionally, SpaceX has secured billions in federal funding since its inception.

Despite Trump’s support for a plan to overturn the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act — which proposed eliminating the EV tax credit — the tech billionaire remained supportive of the Republican, arguing that the proposed changes would “only help Tesla.”

Trump claims that the committee was created “at the suggestion” of the Tesla CEO, who had previously shown interest in such a role during a conversation with Trump on X.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed Trump’s economic plans just days before his upcoming debate with Vice President Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. According to WSJ, the proposed Trump-Musk committee would conduct “a complete financial and performance audit of the entire federal government” and provide “recommendations for drastic reform,” citing Trump’s Thursday speech.