President Donald Trump demanded Elon Musk ramp up his federal spending cuts at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), posting on Truth Social at 8:04 AM EST Saturday: “ELON IS DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM GET MORE AGGRESSIVE. WE HAVE A COUNTRY TO SAVE. MAGA!” Musk, DOGE’s sole leader, shot back on X at 8:47 AM EST: “Will do, Mr. President,” vowing to escalate his already bruising campaign.

Since Trump’s January 20 inauguration, Musk has hacked $55 billion from the budget, aiming for $2 trillion in savings. On February 21, he triggered a Defense Department cut of 35,000 civilian jobs—5% of its workforce—starting next week. On February 19, he killed $2 billion in rural internet grants, infuriating rural lawmakers. In Dubai on February 20, Musk said, “We’re triaging the patient,” eyeing agency shutdowns. Trump’s nudge signals he wants that triage to turn into surgery—fast.

Musk’s cuts have unleashed chaos. Unions blast the layoffs—thousands gone in weeks—while lawsuits target DOGE’s powers and Musk’s Treasury access. A February 18 ruling rebuffed 14 Democratic attorneys general trying to stop it. DOGE’s $40 million budget rankles critics as it guts grants, yet its $55 billion haul barely scratches the $36.2 trillion national debt—a gap Trump wants closed quicker.

Trump’s push fits his “Save America” playbook, with a midterm DOGE goal of major cuts by July 4, 2026—America’s 250th birthday. Musk’s “Will do” promises a fiercer pace, but potential legal fights and public backlash loom large.