Hey! Did you hear about the last bombshell that Trump dropped at that summit in Miami? It turns out that the trending topic now is the supposed stimulus checks… but in DOGE! Yes, as you hear it. Things are so strange that even Elon Musk is involved in the gossip. Let’s break this down step by step, because the mix of cryptocurrencies, government cuts, and promises of easy money sounds like a sci-fi movie script. Ready?
It all started when Trump, at a summit in Miami sponsored by Saudi Arabia, floated the idea of handing out stimulus checks to Americans using the “savings” from something called the DOGE Department of Government Efficiency. According to him, 20% of those savings would go to the people and another 20% to pay the country’s debt. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But here comes the problem: it turns out that DOGE (that half-ghost agency that no one really understood until now) has been inflating its numbers.
Stimulus Checks in DOGE? The Latest Twist in the Trump-Musk Saga
A recent report revealed that DOGE claimed to have saved $55 billion, but when they checked the famous “receipt wall” on its website, the real figure was only $16.5 billion. And be careful: they even included an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) contract that was supposedly worth 8 billion… but in reality it was 8 million.
A little error of three zeros, what difference does it make? In total, by Wednesday the “savings” had already dropped to 8.5 billion, eliminating that oversight of almost 8 billion. That is, from 55 to 8.5… tremendous collective facepalm.
Where did the idea for DOGE stimulus checks come from?
Here comes James Fishback, CEO of Azoria (an investment firm), who thought of posting on X (formerly Twitter) that if DOGE had saved so much, why not distribute it in checks? The idea went viral on TikTok, with videos promising “Up to $8,000 per person!” Sure, no real basis, but who cares about the details when there are views to generate? One of those videos surpassed 5 million views in four days.
And then, like in any good soap opera, Elon Musk appeared. Fishback tagged him in his post, and the X/Tesla/SpaceX owner responded with a mysterious “I’ll check with the president.” Translation? He himself didn’t know what he was talking about, but he gave wind to the trending topic.
The harsh reality: Is this ever gonna happen?
Let’s see, don’t worry, this is not like the $1,400 check that some received in 2025. Those payments were part of the Biden Recovery Rebate Credit, approved by Congress. But the DOGE thing is pure smoke. First, because any federal stimulus needs the approval of Congress, and second, because DOGE does not even have the authority to issue checks. Also, what “savings” are they talking about if their numbers are faker than a Monopoly ticket?
In case it wasn’t clear: DOGE has brutally cut federal agencies, leaving thousands out of work or on administrative leave. In other words, the “efficiency” they boast about comes from laying off people and canceling contracts. And now they want to distribute crumbs of that? Please.
Real Checks vs. volatile promises: what you can claim
While the world is distracted by the DOGE-Trump-Musk circus, there are people who did receive recent money: the IRS sent checks of up to $1,400 in December and January to those who did not claim the Recovery Credit on their 2021 taxes. And if you are one of those who have not yet filed that return, you have until April 15 to do so and claim your money. Mind you, it’s real money, not meme-flavored crypto promises.
Let’s not fool ourselves: all this smells like a campaign. Trump mentioning stimulus checks in the middle of the summit in Miami (with Saudi money behind him), DOGE being used as a scapegoat to justify cuts, and Musk liking anything that gives it relevance. It is the perfect combo: financial populism + social networks + cost of living crisis.
And meanwhile, people are wondering: is no one seriously going to audit DOGE? How do you allow a quasi-governmental agency to publish such absurd numbers? It’s like your accountant tells you he saved $55,000 last year, and when you ask for proof, he shows you a Starbucks ticket and a Netflix receipt.