White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back against Democratic opposition to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), saying Monday on Fox News’ “Hannity” that they are “completely out of touch” with the American people.
In recent weeks, Democrats have escalated their criticism of DOGE and its ties to Elon Musk, staging protests throughout the week of February 3 against the agency’s efforts to streamline government spending and reduce waste.
Critics have focused on Musk’s involvement and the restructuring of federal agencies under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
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During an interview with Sean Hannity, Leavitt responded to Democratic lawmakers, including California Rep. Maxine Waters and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who have been vocal in their opposition. Hannity asked whether she would address their objections to Musk’s role in Trump’s administration.
“I would love to, Sean. Clearly the Democrats learned nothing from their devastating defeat on November 5 because this is exactly what the American people voted for,” Leavitt said.
“President Trump campaigned alongside Elon Musk, and President Trump promised voters on the campaign that he was going to make our government more efficient,” she added.
Leavitt went on to explain that DOGE was part of Trump’s commitment to eliminating government waste, with Musk appointed to lead the effort.
“He came up with the idea of DOGE, and he told everybody in the world he would be appointing Elon Musk to cut through the waste, fraud and abuse that has plagued our federal government for far too long and has ripped off hard-working taxpayers,” she continued.
“I think it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody that that’s what Elon is doing at the direction of President Trump. The only surprise here is the vast amount of waste, fraud and abuse that we have uncovered, and we are just getting started.”
During a discussion on X Spaces, Musk revealed that he and President Trump had agreed to move the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the direct oversight of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The move comes after reports indicated that billions of taxpayer dollars were being spent on international programs, some involving left-wing social policies abroad.
Democrats have called the restructuring illegal, with some lawmakers protesting outside the Department of Treasury on February 3.
Among them was Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey, who was seen declaring that the Senate should be “shut down” and that Democrats are “at war” over the changes.
Leavitt dismissed the protests, citing polling that shows public support for Trump’s approach to foreign aid and government reform.
“The Democrats are so incredibly out of touch. If you look at the public polling, 56% of the public supports President Trump’s freeze on foreign aid,” she said.
“The most recent CBS poll shows that the vast majority of Americans support what President Trump is doing.”
She also criticized Democratic protests as performative and unproductive.
“So while the Democrats continue to hoot and holler in the streets, acting completely deranged, President Trump and Elon Musk and our entire administration are going to continue to go line by line and treat this federal government like a business,” Leavitt said.
“What do we actually need to spend money on to advance America’s interests? That is our goal here. That’s all that’s happening. Anything else is fear mongering by the left because they don’t have a real message, and they’re deranged. There’s no other way to put it.”
A new CBS News poll released Sunday revealed that Trump’s approval rating has climbed to 53%, his highest yet. Additionally, 70% of Americans believe he is following through on his campaign promises.
“Holy smokes… Whoa… We’re living in A Different World…”
Trump’s had a net positive approval rating for all 21 days of his 2nd term vs. just 11 days during his entire 1st term!
Big reason? 70% say he’s doing what he promised vs. just 46% who felt that way by April 2017. pic.twitter.com/Tj3jSAv0rL
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) February 10, 2025
Among respondents:
- 49% said Trump is accomplishing more than expected
- 41% said he is meeting expectations
- Only 9% felt he was delivering less than expected
With Trump moving swiftly to restructure government spending and reform agencies like USAID, his administration maintains that efficiency and fiscal responsibility remain key priorities. As opposition from Democrats intensifies, the White House remains firm in its commitment to cutting waste and refocusing government resources on American interests.
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