Musk deflects possibility of DOGE stimulus check
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Elon Musk addresses a rally. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
The idea of a DOGE stimulus check keeps coming up, but Elon Musk is distancing himself from it.
Why it matters: Musk has begun to downplay what is perhaps the most popular idea (at least on social media) associated with his team's bid to to cut government spending.
Driving the news: In response to a question about DOGE checks at a Wisconsin rally on Sunday, Musk pushed responsibility onto Congress.
- Musk said that the decision would be "somewhat up to Congress and maybe the president as to whether specific checks are cut," adding that "whether a check is cut or not, if you reduce wasteful spending the economy is going to be better off."
The latest: The comments come as President Trump suggests a possible looming end to Musk's oversight of the somewhat unpopular initiative.
Catch up quick: Musk said last month he'd float the idea of a DOGE check to Trump, who in turn said that he was considering it.
- "There's even a — under consideration, a new concept where we give 20% of the DOGE savings to American citizens and 20% goes to paying down debt," Trump said at the FII Priority Summit.
- The original pitch came from James Fishback, CEO of investment firm Azoria and an outspoken supporter of Trump and Musk's economic agenda.
- In an X post directed at Musk, Fishback proposed that 79 million of the 132 million U.S. households should be eligible for 20% of DOGE's $2 trillion savings target, which comes out to $5,000 for each of those households.
Yes, but: Musk himself has retreated from the original DOGE savings target, calling that $2 trillion a "best-case outcome" and saying that there was only a "good shot" at securing half of it.
