Elon Musk Suggests US Should Exit NATO: "Doesn't Make Sense for America":

Billionaire Elon Musk has publicly supported the idea of the United States withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Responding to a post on X (formerly Twitter) advocating for an immediate exit from NATO, Musk replied, "We really should," adding, "Doesn’t make sense for America to pay for the defense of Europe."

This is not the first time Musk has questioned the relevance of NATO. In March 2024, he wrote on X, "I always wondered why NATO continued to exist even though its nemesis and reason to exist, The Warsaw Pact, had dissolved."

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has also expressed skepticism about America's financial commitment to NATO. He questioned the necessity of U.S. spending on the alliance, stating that while the U.S. protects NATO members, they are "not protecting us." Trump further demanded that other NATO members increase their defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP), a significant rise from the current 2% target—a level that no NATO country, including the United States, currently meets.

Elon Musk currently leads the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative established by the second Trump administration to reduce federal spending and improve governmental efficiency. Despite its name, DOGE is a temporary organization operating within the White House and is not a formal cabinet department. It was created through an executive order on January 20, 2025, by renaming the United States Digital Service to the United States DOGE Service. Musk has been designated as a Special Government Employee to oversee this initiative.

DOGE has been involved in various cost-cutting measures, including reducing government jobs, canceling contracts, and selling non-core federal properties. These actions have led to significant layoffs and the closure of federal buildings, aiming to save approximately $430 million annually.

The initiative has faced criticism and legal challenges due to potential conflicts of interest with Musk's businesses and the aggressive downsizing of the federal workforce. Concerns have also been raised about the impact of these measures on essential government services and the overall efficiency of federal operations.