Elon Musk gets standing ovation at House Republican Conference

Elon Musk received a standing ovation at the House Republican Conference on Wednesday after President-elect Donald Trump gave him a shout-out during his speech. The billionaire businessman accompanied Trump on his trip to Washington, DC, during which Trump met with Democratic President Joe Biden at the White House.

The House Republican Conference roared for Elon Musk when Trump acknowledged his presence in the room. Musk responded by standing up, smiling, and waving to the crowd, video footage shows. Rep. Mark Alford wrote, "We’re looking forward to his leadership tearing down the waste, abuse, and fraud that’s running rampant in our government."

The President-elect announced Tuesday that Musk, along with billionaire tech businessman and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, will lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in his upcoming administration, which will begin in January 2025. The DOGE aims to cut wasteful government spending and slash excess regulations, among other things.

Donald Trump said, "A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident [Musk and Ramaswamy] will succeed!"

"Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my Administration to dismantle Government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies - Essential to the 'Save America' Movement," said Trump.

On Wednesday, an official DOGE account was launched on X, which seemed to have sparked excitement among social media users who expressed their eagerness to see what the department could complete over the next four years. The account's bio contains one basic message: "The people voted for major reform."