Billionaire Elon Musk posted a claim suggesting that former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama oversaw a greater number of deportations than President Donald Trump, while encountering no injunctions.
Musk recently garnered attention by addressing critics of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through the sharing of a previously uncovered video featuring Obama presenting a remarkably similar initiative from over ten years ago.
Musk utilized his X platform to share a video from 2011 featuring Obama introducing the ‘Campaign to Cut Waste,’ which was designed to reduce unnecessary government expenditures. Musk remarked on the similarities by stating, ‘Sounds exactly like DOGE.’ In the video, Obama humorously suggested appointing then-Vice President Joe Biden to lead the initiative, quipping, ‘Nobody messes with Joe.’ Obama highlighted several instances of ‘pointless waste and foolish spending that serves no one,’ including the continued funding of a website for a folk music group known as the ‘Fiddlin’ Foresters.’
Obama stated, ‘It is widely recognized that eliminating the deficit will necessitate difficult choices, which includes reducing funding for numerous programs that many individuals value. However, it should be straightforward to eliminate unnecessary waste and imprudent expenditures that do not serve anyone’s interests—waste that ought to be addressed regardless of the existence of a deficit.
While some of these reductions may seem minor, any level of waste is intolerable, especially when it involves taxpayer money, particularly at a time when many Americans are already tightening their budgets. Just as families are managing their finances responsibly, the government should do the same.
For instance, did you know that the federal government funds a website dedicated to a folk music group composed of forest rangers known as the Fiddlin’ Foresters? I may enjoy their music on my iPod, but I refuse to finance their website.
Furthermore, there are countless similar sites that we ought to either consolidate or eliminate entirely. Additionally, you are not only funding unnecessary websites; you are also financing thousands of underutilized buildings throughout the nation.
In the past ten years, the government has possessed a large and entirely vacant warehouse located in Brooklyn, for instance. The government has struggled to sell this property and similar ones due to bureaucratic obstacles and political issues in Washington that have delayed progress for years.
However, we are now making significant strides to resolve these issues and intend to dispose of these properties in the coming months. It is imperative that we enhance our efforts. We must pursue every dollar diligently.
Our goal is to ensure that the government serves your interests. Therefore, effective immediately, I have tasked the vice president with spearheading a renewed initiative to identify and eliminate wasteful spending across all agencies and departments.
This initiative is termed the campaign to cut waste, and I am confident that Joe is the ideal leader for this endeavor, as he is not one to be trifled with.
President Biden stated, “A new standard will guide the government’s operations moving forward. The American populace deserves transparency. Much of this relies on advanced techniques, but it also requires an unwavering commitment to prioritize this issue; a focus that cannot be assigned to others.
We are holding ourselves accountable and are sincerely dedicated to enhancing government efficiency. Our efforts extend beyond merely eradicating fraud and waste; we aim to foster a completely new culture that not only our administration but also future administrations will actively pursue. We are committed to providing the government that you rightfully expect and deserve.”
The footage of Obama was initially captured while he was gearing up for his 2012 re-election campaign.
