Trump and Musk Team Up for New Executive Orders and Prime-Time Interview

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to sign new executive orders from Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday while his first joint television interview with Elon Musk airs in prime time.

The interview, conducted by Sean Hannity of Fox News, showcases Trump alongside Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, as they address their efforts to reduce federal government spending. This rare collaboration comes as Trump spends the day at his Palm Beach golf club.

The executive orders highlight a variety of issues including access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and federal spending initiatives spearheaded by Musk. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the first order will focus on ensuring access to IVF while aiming to lower related costs. “The order directs policy recommendations to protect IVF access,” she stated on social media.

Access to fertility treatments became a contentious issue after last year when Alabama courts ruled embryos as “extrauterine children,” prompting several clinics to halt IVF services.

In the interview snippet released prior to the airing, Musk shared his frustrations regarding what he termed “Trump Derangement Syndrome” among his former allies on the left, suggesting that Democrats have become increasingly irrational in their discourse around Trump. Musk remarked, “It’s like they’ve become completely irrational,” further illustrating the widening political divide in the U.S.

In addition to signing executive orders, Trump is set to host an awards program at Mar-a-Lago for the conservative group America’s Future, which is led by former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. The event aims to celebrate American values and will honor individuals from each branch of the military.

Musk’s involvement in the administration has drawn scrutiny, especially after the White House clarified that he does not hold formal authority within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Leavitt confirmed that Musk is serving as a senior adviser while tasks related to federal spending are directed by order from individual agencies.

At Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, Trump signed several orders including one that mandates federal agencies report instances of waste and fraud. An aide described this as imposing “radical transparency requirements” on government departments, echoing the administration’s commitment to efficient governance.

The criticism directed at Musk and Trump has been intensifying. Critics claim that their approach to cutting federal jobs and programs poses risks to essential services. Musk, however, maintains that their initiatives are vital for reforming government operations.

Later, the conversation surrounding the executive orders might shift as Trump attempts to address concerns from various sectors, balancing the diverse views while striving to reshape the federal landscape.