Elon Musk has reignited the debate over his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives by posting an old video from 2011 featuring then-President Barack Obama. In the clip, Obama launched what he called the “Campaign to Cut Waste,” with Vice President Joe Biden credited as the driving force behind the effort.
Obama’s speech humorously took aim at excessive government spending, including funding a folk music website. He stressed the importance of trimming government expenses, likening it to the way families must live within their means. Musk used the video to highlight similarities between Obama’s waste-cutting efforts and the aggressive cuts proposed by DOGE, framing them both as ways to reduce government bloat.
Yet, critics have noted that Obama’s campaign was far more modest compared to Musk’s sweeping proposals. While Obama focused on curbing things like empty government buildings, Musk’s plan would bring deeper spending reductions. Some commentators, including Joe Rogan, have argued that figures like Musk and Trump are uniquely positioned to turn talk of waste reduction into reality. Despite lingering legal obstacles, recent polls show most Americans back the proposed cutbacks.
