Unmasking the Truth Behind Trump and Musk’s Fraud Claims

An in-depth investigation into allegations of government waste and fraud—examining inspector general audits, non-partisan analyses, and hard data to separate fact from political spin.

President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk have recently alleged that the U.S. federal government is riddled with fraud and wasteful spending. From claiming that “millions” of phantom beneficiaries are draining Social Security, to touting the cancellation of “secret” government contracts, Trump and Musk paint a picture of a bloated bureaucracy squandering taxpayer dollars. They have even suggested that trimming this “fraud and waste” could save trillions and significantly reduce government spending. These assertions, delivered in rallies, press conferences, and social media posts, have generated buzz – but are they grounded in fact or are they mostly political spin?

This report examines key claims made by Trump and Musk about government fraud and waste, cross-checking each with credible evidence such as inspector general audits, non-partisan analyses, and investigative journalism. We assess how valid their allegations are, using direct quotes from Trump and Musk and hard dat…