Trump adopts Elon Musk plan for government reform, lays out economic blueprint ahead of Harris debate

• Former President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new batch of economic policy proposals to a room full of business executives at the Economic Club of New York.
• The proposals will include endorsing Elon Musk's idea to create a government efficiency commission, an attempt to take a dig at the Biden-Harris administration's spending levels.
• Trump is working to sharpen his policy pitch five days before he is scheduled to face off against Harris in a debate hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10.

NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new batch of economic policy proposals that include Tesla CEO Elon Musk's idea of creating a government efficiency commission to eliminate wasteful federal spending, a shot at the Biden-Harris administration's spending levels.

"This commission will develop an action plan to totally eliminate fraud and improper payments within six months," Trump said in a speech to a room full of business executives at the Economic Club of New York.

"When Elon started the conversation with the president, I think the president was very excited that somebody like Elon Musk is so dedicated to America's future that he would be willing to be a part of something to help the government work more efficiently," Trump campaign advisor Brian Hughes said on a call with reporters ahead of the former president's speech.

Hughes added that details on how the efficiency commission would be staffed and operated are yet to come.

But Musk has repeatedly raised his hand to helm such a commission: "I look forward to serving America if the opportunity arises. No pay, no title, no recognition is needed," the billionaire entrepreneur reiterated in a Thursday post on X.

Trump's embrace of Musk's idea is the latest signal