Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the Trump administration, criticized budget support for private universities on Wednesday, invoking North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his remarks.
According to Fox News, Musk commented during a luncheon with around 40 Republican senators. When Senator Katie Britt of Alabama asked about his stance on federal funding for private universities, Musk reportedly quipped that Kim Jong Un could learn much about propaganda development from these institutions. His sardonic remark suggested that the propaganda efforts at some U.S. private universities have reached a level even North Korea could emulate.
The day before, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that any educational institution allowing illegal protests would lose federal funding. He warned that agitators would face imprisonment or permanent deportation, while American students could be expelled or arrested depending on their offenses. Trump and his Republican allies have been vocal about the persistence of anti-Semitism and illegal protests on some campuses, following the spread of Gaza-related anti-war demonstrations at universities last year.
During the meeting, Musk claimed that DOGE’s initiatives save the U.S. about $4 million daily. He also received strong support when he called for the abolition of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in response to a question. Fox News noted that Republicans have long opposed NEPA, as it allows climate activist groups to challenge infrastructure and energy projects.