President Trump sits for an interview with FOX Information Channel’s Bret Baier on the Mar-a-Lago Membership in Palm Seashore, Fla.

Fox Information/Fox Information

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Fox Information/Fox Information

President Trump defended his first three weeks again within the White Home — punctuated by federal authorities disruption and guarantees of American expansionism — throughout an interview with FOX Information Channel’s Bret Baier that aired on Tremendous Bowl Sunday.

One in every of Trump’s largest strikes in his second time period within the White Home was asking billionaire Elon Musk to guide an entity, referred to as the Division of Authorities Effectivity, to concentrate on reducing federal spending.

“I’ve had an excellent assist with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific,” Trump stated in the course of the interview, which was pre-taped and aired as Trump flew to New Orleans to attend the Tremendous Bowl in particular person, turning into the primary sitting U.S. president to take action.

Musk, a tech magnate turned particular authorities worker, has had practically unrestricted entry to federal authorities departments and knowledge — together with Social Safety and checking account numbers. A federal decide on Saturday temporarily blocked entry to Treasury Division to DOGE following a lawsuit from 19 Democratic attorneys normal, citing the chance of “irreparable hurt.”

“I disagree with it 100%,” Trump stated of the ruling. “I believe it is loopy. And we’ve got to resolve the effectivity downside.”

When requested about his confidence in Musk, Trump stated his intentions had been good.

“Belief Elon?” Trump stated, “Oh, he isn’t gaining something. In actual fact, I’m wondering how he can commit the time to it. He is so into it.”

With Trump’s assist, Musk and his DOGE unit have drastically lower funding for the U.S. Company for Worldwide Improvement and promised to “shut it down.” On Friday, a court temporarily stopped the Trump administration from shutting the company down fully.

Trump stated he is directed Musk and his group to analyze the departments of Training and Protection subsequent.

“We’ll discover billions, a whole lot of billions of {dollars} of fraud and abuse,” the President stated. “And, you recognize, the folks elected me on that.”

Area X — considered one of Musk’s corporations — has acquired billions of {dollars} in authorities contracts from the Division of Protection.

Canada as “51st state”

Throughout his inauguration speech, Trump promised to “pursue our Manifest Future into the celebs” and ship astronauts to Mars. Within the intervening weeks, Trump has additionally talked about shopping for Greenland, making Canada the “51st state,” taking again the Panama Canal and proudly owning Gaza — all with out excluding the opportunity of utilizing U.S. troops to realize these expansionist objectives.

Trump doubled down on his want for Canada to affix the U.S. throughout his interview with FOX Information Channel’s Bret Baier.

“I believe Canada could be a lot better off being a 51st state, as a result of we lose $200 billion a yr with Canada,” Trump stated.

Final week, Trump threatened stiff tariffs on Mexico and Canada, however delayed them for 30 days after each international locations promised to ship 10,000 troops to protect their U.S. borders. On Sunday, the president stated these actions weren’t sufficient to cease the eventual tariffs.

“No, it isn’t ok,” Trump stated. “It is not sustainable, and I am altering it.”

Whereas flying on Air Drive One to New Orleans, Trump informed reporters he’ll subject a 25% tariff on aluminum and metal imports on Monday. Moreover, he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on “everybody” on Tuesday or Wednesday: “In the event that they cost us, we cost them. That is all,” he stated. “Each nation might be reciprocal.”

He additionally stood by his want that the U.S. will personal and take over Gaza.

Trump on the Tremendous Bowl

Trump’s interview with FOX Information aired hours earlier than the coin toss on the Superdome in New Orleans, La.

“I believed it will be a great factor for the nation to have the president be on the recreation,” Trump stated of his choice to attend in particular person.

When requested who he thinks will win the NFL championship, the president picked the Chiefs due to quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“I assume you must say that when a quarterback wins as a lot as he is gained, I’ve to go together with Kansas Metropolis,” the president stated. “I’ve to go together with Kansas Metropolis. On the identical time, Philadelphia has a implausible — it is going to be only a nice recreation.”

The president performed soccer on the New York Army Academy. Trump later went on to personal the New Jersey Generals in the USA Soccer League. The USFL briefly competed with the NFL, earlier than folding.

In 2018, Trump disinvited the Eagles from the White Home after they gained the Tremendous Bowl LII. On the time, the group would not promise that each one its gamers would stand with a hand on their coronary heart for the nationwide anthem.

Trump criticized gamers who knelt in the course of the nationwide anthem to protest racism — the motion began by Colin Kaepernick in 2016.

The president’s Tremendous Bowl attendance comes after the NFL’s choice to take away the “Finish Racism” slogans which had been written in finish zones since 2021. “Select Love” might be stenciled into the top zone on Sunday.

“Now we have to come back collectively,” Trump stated on Sunday. “However to come back collectively, there’s just one factor that is going to do it, and that is large success. Success will deliver the nation collectively, but it surely’s laborious.”