Elon Musk recently appeared on “The Joe Rogan Experience” in a wide-ranging interview that covered topics such as DOGE, artificial intelligence, and his alleged Nazi salute. Here are five key moments from the episode.
Musk discussed the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been making headlines for its efforts to cut spending. He questioned the effectiveness of the US Agency for International Development’s foreign aid work, suggesting that 90-95% of it was not effective. Musk also expressed his support for new reporting requirements and payment categorization codes for government payments.
Musk further criticized Social Security, calling it a “Ponzi scheme.” He argued that its financial situation would worsen in the future due to falling birth rates and increasing national debt obligations. A report by the Social Security and Medicare Board of Trustees found that the program could only pay out full benefits for around 11 years.
Musk addressed the backlash he received after being accused of making a Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration celebration. He denied any fascist intentions, saying “Hopefully, people realize I’m not a Nazi.” Musk also called legacy media’s portrayal of the incident “coordinated propaganda.”
Artificial intelligence was another topic discussed by Musk and Rogan. While criticizing OpenAI’s efforts to become a for-profit business, Musk believed AI could have a role in government. However, he expressed concerns about its potential risks, including becoming a “super oppressive woke Nanny AI.” Musk also noted that the probability of a good outcome with AI was around 80%.
Finally, Musk discussed his access to defense contractor information and claimed to have an “all-access pass” from a security clearance standpoint. He denied the existence of secret programs involving advanced propulsion systems for drones, stating that SpaceX has the most advanced rocket technology in the world.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/5-key-points-elon-musk-interview-joe-rogan-doge-ai-2025-3