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Trump's new human resource czar distances himself from Elon Musk, aims to ‘institutionalise' DOGE

Trump's new human resource czar distances himself from Elon Musk, aims to ‘institutionalise' DOGE

Indian Express5 days ago
The US government's new human resources chief, Scott Kupor, has said that he had no personal ties with tech billionaire and President Donald Trump's former advisor Elon Musk, as he pledged to faithfully execute the agenda of the Republican leader and said he wants to 'institutionalise' DOGE's (Department of Government Efficiency) pursuit of 'operational efficiency'.
Kupor, who was sworn in to lead the Office of Personnel Management earlier this month, has said that he has 'zero relationship with Elon Musk'. 'I have talked to Elon Musk once on the phone in my life,' he said. Kupor assumes the role as the federal civil service is reeling with staff cuts and mass firing under DOGE, which was earlier being led by Musk.
If you're interested in hearing more about our areas of focus at OPM, have a look at the internal message I sent the team today. Lots of big stuff to focus on. https://t.co/ZxwJgo8enB
— Scott Kupor (@skupor) July 21, 2025
Kupor, who is a former partner at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, raised objections over some of Musk's methods and the scale of his proposed cuts in the federal government via DOGE. Kupor questioned the method Musk used to push civil servants to report on their weekly progress. But the new human resource czar said the stringent efficiency measure would continue.
'What [DOGE] did was catalyse the start of a process. Now, we have to actually institutionalise those things and pursue operational efficiency,' Kupor said, reported Financial Times.
He said that he told resident Trump and others at the White House that his job is 'to do the agenda that the president lays out to the best I can. But I'm not going to do it consistent with someone else's objectives that are inconsistent with what the president wants to do.'
Musk, who helped Donald Trump with nearly $300 million in funding to win the US presidential election in November, led DOGE to slash budget and cut the federal workforce until his exit in May amid a rift with President Trump over the latter's 'Big, Beautiful bill'.
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Trump says Japan will invest $550 billion in US at his direction. It may not be a sure thing
Trump says Japan will invest $550 billion in US at his direction. It may not be a sure thing

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Trump says Japan will invest $550 billion in US at his direction. It may not be a sure thing

President Donald Trump is bragging that Japan has given him, as part of a new trade framework, $550 billion to invest in the United States. It's an astonishing figure, but still subject to negotiation and perhaps not the sure thing he's portraying. "Japan is putting up $550 billion in order to lower their tariffs a little bit," Trump said Thursday. "They put up, as you could call it, seed money. Let's call it seed money." Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MBA Product Management MCA Cybersecurity healthcare Artificial Intelligence CXO Public Policy Finance Technology Operations Management Healthcare PGDM Others Project Management Design Thinking Degree Management Digital Marketing Data Science Data Science Data Analytics others Leadership Skills you'll gain: Analytical Skills Financial Literacy Leadership and Management Skills Strategic Thinking Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Online MBA Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Management Team Leadership & Collaboration Financial Reporting & Analysis Advocacy Strategies for Leadership Duration: 18 Months UMass Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Starts on May 13, 2024 Get Details He said 90% of any profits from the money invested would go to the U.S. even if Japan had put up the funds. "It's not a loan or anything, it's a signing bonus," the Republican president said, on the trade framework that lowered his threatened tariff from 25% to 15%, including on autos. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Solar Panels Prices Might Surprise You Affordable Solar Panel | Search Ads Search Now Undo A White House official said the terms are being negotiated and nothing has been formalized in writing. The official, who insisted on anonymity to detail the terms of the talks, suggested the goal was for the $550 billion fund to make investments at Trump's direction. The sum is significant: It would represent more than 10% of Japan's entire gross domestic product . The Japan External Trade Organization estimates that direct investment into the U.S. economy topped $780 billion in 2023. It is unclear the degree to which the $550 billion could represent new investment or flow into existing investment plans. 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US President Trump's Scotland visit blends politics and business at new golf site
US President Trump's Scotland visit blends politics and business at new golf site

First Post

time2 hours ago

  • First Post

US President Trump's Scotland visit blends politics and business at new golf site

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The White House described Trump as a championship-level golfer but said he plays with no handicap.

Why Trump's deflection playbook is faltering as Epstein case stirs Republican unrest
Why Trump's deflection playbook is faltering as Epstein case stirs Republican unrest

First Post

time2 hours ago

  • First Post

Why Trump's deflection playbook is faltering as Epstein case stirs Republican unrest

President Donald Trump is facing growing pressure from his Republican base over unresolved questions about Jeffrey Epstein as his usual tactics of distraction and denial fail to silence calls for transparency and accountability. read more Once masterful at deflecting controversy, President Donald Trump is now finding his usual playbook less effective as pressure mounts over the unresolved Jeffrey Epstein saga even from within his loyal conservative base. Despite years of successfully shifting focus through bluster, distractions and conspiracy-laden narratives, Trump's White House is now grappling with persistent questions about his past ties to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019. The calls for transparency aren't just coming from Democrats or the media but increasingly from his own supporters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump has responded with familiar tactics: dodging questions, downplaying his connection to Epstein and blaming the media. Yet the scrutiny persists, exposing a rare vulnerability in his ability to control the narrative. 'This is one issue the president can't seem to shake,' said Republican strategist Erin Maguire, a former Trump campaign spokeswoman. 'He's usually excellent at steering the conversationbut not this time.' What distinguishes this controversy from earlier political storms including two impeachments and the Russia probe is the source of the agitation. It's the president's right-wing supporters, long suspicious of a government cover-up involving Epstein's powerful connections, who are now demanding accountability. That suspicion has only intensified as Trump's administration downplays his past friendship with Epstein while acknowledging his name appears in case documents. 'Trump's been running a propaganda machine for years, but it's running out of steam,' said Geoff Duncan, a Republican and vocal Trump critic. 'The far-right base is relentless on this issue. They want the truth.' In public remarks, Trump has repeatedly sought to change the subject. Ahead of a trip to Scotland, he urged the media to focus on the country's economic performance rather than on Epstein. 'They don't talk about the others, they talk about me. I have nothing to do with the guy,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But deflection has only gone so far. Trump's recent distractions included lashing out at a reporter in the Cabinet Room, claiming disinterest in the Epstein matter and teaming up with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to accuse former President Barack Obama of treason, a pivot seen by some strategists as tone-deaf. Republican strategist Brad Todd argued that Trump's confrontation with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over interest rates had more resonance than his backward-looking claims against Obama. 'Going after the Fed touches on affordability. That works better than rehashing 2016,' he said. Democrats, meanwhile, sense an opening. With Trump's grip on the GOP showing signs of strain, especially in the aftermath of poor Democratic showings in last year's elections, Epstein's lingering shadow offers a wedge issue. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found most Americans believe the Trump administration is concealing information about Epstein. Democrats and some Republicans alike are pushing for the release of government files on the case—documents the Justice Department had once pledged to publish. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Yesterday was another example of Trump's team trying to drown out calls for the Epstein files with noise,' said Senator Mark Warner, commenting on Gabbard's attack on Obama. Inside the White House, officials maintain their strategy of flooding the news cycle. 'They're constantly on the offensive, every agency pumping out stories, trying to control what dominates the headlines,' said Maguire. Still, despite the growing unrest over Epstein, Trump retains strong support on key issues. A July Reuters/Ipsos poll showed 56% of Republicans back his immigration workplace raids. And history shows his base often overlooks even more serious allegations. Pollster Frank Luntz put it bluntly: 'Trump's faced indictments, impeachments, and criminal charges and still got re-elected. He's slipped past before. But this one may take longer to fade.' With inputs from agencies

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