Lara Trump, Fox News host, wife of Eric Trump, and former Republican National Committee co-chair, sparked controversy during a recent appearance on Sean Hannity’s program on March 10, 2025, when she suggested that Americans should show their appreciation to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk by “kissing the feet” of the two men.
The comments came as Lara Trump defended her father-in-law and Musk for their efforts to reduce government spending, which has caused significant disruptions across federal agencies.
Critics have filed legal challenges against the Trump administration’s cuts, arguing that the White House is breaking the law by halting spending mandated by Congress.
During the Monday night segment on Fox News, Lara Trump specifically addressed attacks against Musk, who serves as a senior White House advisor in the Trump administration despite having no previous government experience.
“They’re attacking his character, they’ve called him a Nazi, they’re going after his businesses, they’re vandalizing property,” she said. “They’re doing any and everything they can to this man.”
Lara Trump claimed that Musk, like Donald Trump, is making personal financial sacrifices to serve the country. “It’s really horrific to see because what is Elon getting for all this? You know, much like Donald Trump, he didn’t need this job, Sean. He’s not taking a salary. It’s actually laughable every time you hear these people on the left say Elon’s enriching himself and his friends,” she stated.
She went on to assert that Musk is “losing money because of what he’s doing, but he understands the importance of this moment.”
The timing of these comments has raised eyebrows, as they come just weeks after an apparent hack at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, where employees arrived at work to find screens displaying an AI-generated video of Donald Trump licking and rubbing Musk’s feet. The coincidental connection between this cybersecurity incident and Lara Trump’s choice of words has not gone unnoticed by critics.
Musk’s companies have recently faced challenges, including a significant drop in Tesla’s stock price and a SpaceX rocket explosion. Reports have also emerged that Musk’s authority within the Trump administration has been limited, with the president allegedly telling top officials that while Musk can offer recommendations, he cannot make unilateral staffing decisions.
The controversial cuts spearheaded by the Trump-Musk partnership have impacted various sectors of government, including nuclear safety workers and experts responding to the avian flu outbreak. These widespread reductions in federal workforce and spending have prompted concerns from various stakeholders about their potential long-term effects on government services and national security.
President Trump has publicly expressed support for Musk amid the controversy, with reports indicating he plans to purchase a Tesla vehicle to demonstrate his “confidence and support” for the billionaire entrepreneur. This gesture comes as Tesla has reportedly been the target of vandalism attacks.
Social media reaction to Lara Trump’s comments has been swift and largely negative, with many critics characterizing her remarks as inappropriate, out of touch, and resembling cult-like devotion. Some observers have drawn parallels to biblical prohibitions against idolatry, citing the commandment against worshipping false gods.
Lara Trump was recently hired by Fox News to host a weekend evening show, adding to the growing number of Trump family members and allies who have secured positions in media or government following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
The controversy occurs against a backdrop of growing trade tensions between the United States and Canada, with President Trump announcing new tariffs on steel and aluminum. These economic policies, combined with the dramatic government spending cuts, represent significant shifts in governance style from previous administrations.
In her Fox News appearance, Lara Trump predicted that Democrats would “continue to lose the support of the American people” for their criticism of the Trump administration’s approach to government spending.
While supporters of the administration view the cuts as necessary measures to address federal spending, critics argue that the manner and scope of these reductions risk undermining essential government functions and could potentially violate laws requiring the executive branch to implement congressionally approved funding.
The controversy highlights the ongoing polarization in American politics, with sharply divided perspectives on the appropriate role and size of government, as well as the deference owed to elected officials and their appointed advisors.
