President Donald Trump sat down with Fox News anchor Bret Baier for an interview released ahead of the Super Bowl LIX game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Trump came to billionaire Elon Musk’s defense, and also told Baier who he thinks will win on Sunday.
Trump, who is 20 days into his presidency, also attended the National Football League’s Super Bowl game, making him the first sitting president to do so.
Here are three highlights from the interview.
Trump: ‘Trust Elon? Oh, he’s not gaining anything’
When Baier asked about Musk and the recent effort to shrink the size of the government, Trump said, “I ran on this,” referencing his campaign promise of making the federal government smaller and rooting out waste.
“I’ve had a great help with Elon Musk, who’s been terrific,” he said. Baier then asked whether Trump trusted the tech billionaire.
“Trust Elon? Oh, he’s not gaining anything,” Trump replied. “In fact, how he can devote the time to it? He’s so into it.”
The president laid out his plans for Musk in the coming hours and days. “I’m going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours, to go check the Department of Education; he’s going to find the same thing,” Trump said. And the military will be next. “We’re going to find billions, hundreds of billions, of dollars of waste, fraud and abuse,” he said.
In the recent weeks, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has targeted the U.S. Agency for International Development and accessed the Treasury department’s payment systems.
“People elected me on that,” Trump said.
Who is Trump supporting in the Super Bowl
Baier pushed Trump to reveal who he is rooting for on Sunday night.
At first, Trump said he’s a fan of both the teams. He praised both the Philadelphia Eagles’ and Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterbacks.
Before giving his game prediction, Trump complimented the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and his “phenomenal” wife, Brittany, who is a Trump “mega fan.”
“I guess you have to say that when a quarterback wins as much as he’s won, I have to go with Kansas City,” the president said. “Philadelphia has a fantastic (team) — it’s going to be just a great game.”
As CNN reported, Mahomes reacted to Trump’s scheduled appearance at the game, saying, “It’s always cool to play in front of a sitting president.”
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce called it “pretty cool.”
“That’s awesome. It’s a great honor,” he said, according to a video from the latest press conference. “I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool.”
Kelce is Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, who feuded with Trump during the presidential elections last year after she endorsed Kamala Harris. Trump even wrote “I hate Taylor Swift” on Truth Social.
What will bring the country together?
Baier noted the power of sports to unite people, as well as Trump’s own winning record as of late, when he won the popular vote and the electoral college.
“Have you thought about how to try to bring the country together, to reach out, or to find common ground?” Baier asked.
“I love to do it, but I would say this, we have to come together, but to come together, there’s only one thing that’s going to do it, and that’s massive success,” he said. “Success will bring the country together, but it’s hard.”
The president acknowledged the executive order he signed last week that said only biological women and girls can compete in female sports.
In a statement from the White House on Sunday morning, Trump said he looked forward to being with the fans in New Orleans.
“The coaches, players, and team staff on the field tonight represent the best of the best in professional football, but they also embody the best of the American Dream,” Trump said. “They also represent the hopes and dreams of our Nation’s young athletes as we restore safety and fairness in sports and equal opportunities among their teams.”
He also noted the recent tragedy that took place in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, when a man drove a truck into crowds of people on Bourbon Street, leaving 14 dead and 35 injured.