Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

This conversation with Musk is bouncing around between a variety of topics.

When asked if he is thinking about auditing the Federal Reserve, the country's independent central bank, he responds: "Yeah, sure."

"Waste is pretty much everywhere," Musk says, when discussing where to cut spending in Washington, DC.

The room is full of audience members clapping and cheering as Musk talks. Many are taking photos and videos with their phones.

For background: The Federal Reserve was established a century ago, and while its officials are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate and it reports regularly to Congress, it was designed to be independent to shield it from political pressure. In his first term, Trump often took issue with Chairman Jerome Powell and pushed the Fed through the media for negative interest rates.

Elon Musk is sitting on the CPAC stage wearing black pants, a black jacket, a black graphic t-shirt and large reflective black frames. On his head, he's wearing what has become his signature black Make America Great Again cap, with MAGA written in Gothic font.

Before his feet rests a chainsaw.

He's answering questions in an interview format about his political journey, going from "politically neutral, for quite a while", he says, to becoming Donald Trump's right-hand man.

Musk says Democrats' attacks on free speech are part of what fuelled his Republican loyalty.

Someone from the crowd shouts "I love you", to which Musk responds: "Thanks, I love you too."

The sound of the gold chain dangling from his neck clinks and clanks as he shifts in his seat.

Almost everyone we've seen here has been dressed in suits, with their eyes clearly visible.

It's an unusual vibe at a gathering of America's most devout conservatives.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

Musk is now speaking about his work with DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, which is advising Trump on slashing government programs.

He is asked about the DOGE dividend cheques, which both he and Trump have started talking about this week. The idea is to give a portion of the savings his group secures directly back to taxpayers.

"It's money that's taken away from things that are destructive to this country," Musk says.

When asked if there's traction on these checks, Musk says "yes"

"The president is supportive of that," Musk says, but doesn't elaborate on specific plans for administering checks.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

Musk, sporting sunglasses and a black Maga baseball cap, says he would have never thought one year ago he'd be in his current role working with the Trump administration.

"We're trying to get good things done but also have a good time doing it and have a sense of humor," he says.

Musk points to several factors that he says drove him to supporting Republican priorities: Cancel culture, trying to stop the freedom of speech and infringement upon personal freedoms.

One member of the crowd has yelled out "we love you" as Musk is speaking.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

Elon Musk is now taking the stage at CPAC to deliver an update on the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

He received the loudest applause and the biggest standing ovation of any speakers I've seen this afternoon.

Argentine President Javier Milei joined Musk on stage and gifted him "the chainsaw of bureaucracy", an actual chainsaw to represent the cuts Musk's efforts to cut government spending.

Earlier today we informed you that tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk had become a late addition to the roster of speakers at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

But now it appears he might not be set to speak today after all, and has been removed from the CPAC schedule.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says her new guardrails include three main mechanisms.

She said they plan to create a special inspector general that will examine moves by the New York City mayor and his administration.

Second, she is proposing giving the city comptroller independent authority to sue the federal government when needed - bypassing the need for the city hall to commence legal fights if they're needed.

And third, she plans to expand the deputy state comptroller general's duties to include oversight of New York City.

Hochul is asked by a reporter whether removing Adams is off the table now that she's said she is rolling out new guardrails - which she says will involve strengthening and expanding oversight of the city's government - on his administration in New York City.

She replies absolutely not and notes she is using the phrase "at this time".

Hochul says it's her "duty as the governor of the state" to interject if there are problems like this, but she notes Adams was duly elected by the city's voters.

"This is not a power grab," she says. "But I'm also not going to turn a blind eye." She says it's her hope that they can get back to a place where "people feel confident again".

While announcing she won't remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from his post, the state's governor Kathy Hochul does say she will be implementing "guardrails" on his administration.

She notes the recent concerns over whether the Trump administration has been influencing Adams' office, after Manhattan's top federal prosecutor alleged Adams had engaged in a quid pro quo, saying he would be able to help implement the Trump administration's policies in exchange for the case against him being dropped. Adams and his lawyer have denied the allegations, with the mayor calling them "silly".

"New York is facing a grave threat from Washington," she says, adding the Trump administration is using "the legal jeopardy facing our mayor as leverage to squeeze and punish our city."

Read more: Judge puts off decision on dropping charges against NY Mayor Adams

Away from Washington DC, in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has just said she will not remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from his post.

She made the announcement at a news conference following concerns about his leadership after the Trump administration demanded a criminal corruption case be dropped against him last week.

More to come.

The president lists a number of people in the audience he wants to thank - one of those is Alice Johnson.

The 63-year-old grandmother was jailed in 1996 on a non-violent drug charge, but was released from prison in 2018 after she was granted clemency by Trump. He later issued her a full pardon.

That decision, the president says, was "one of the best pardons". "You've been an inspiration to people," he says.

Trump adds that Johnson is going to become his "pardon tsar", who is going to look and "make recommendations and I'll follow those recommendations for pardons".

Image source, Getty Images

Trump is now talking about his plans to include black Americans throughout history in his "American Heroes" sculpture garden, which is yet to be built.

He names off Black Americans who have made an impact on the country's history, including Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and Martin Luther King Jr, who he wants to include statues of inside the garden.

Trump jokes that he'd like to add Tiger Woods, who is standing next to him, but notes all of the figures currently included are long dead. "We're going to save Tiger Woods for another time," he says.

• For context: During his first term in the White House, Trump announced plans for a garden with statues of iconic figures throughout US history but it never came to fruition and funding was not approved by Congress. He's recently revived the plans with an executive order, external but it's unclear how the project will be funded. The order calls for the garden to be built before America's 250th birthday on July 4, 2026 and to include 250 Americans.

Trump's now speaking at the White House at an event honouring Black History Month.

Golfer Tiger Woods joins him on the stage briefly, saying it "is an honour to be here", and the president speaks glowingly of the golfer's sporting achievements.

But another guest - Albert Bourla, the chief executive of pharmaceutical company Pfizer - is met by a chorus of boos from the assembled crowd.

Newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel has vowed to "hunt down" those seeking to harm Americans across the globe.

In a post on X, his first comments since his confirmation, Patel says he is "honoured" to take up the position.

"The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice," he says.

"The politicisation of our justice system has eroded public trust - but that ends today. My mission as director is clear: let good cops be cops - and rebuild trust in the FBI."

Patel says he will work alongside colleagues at the bureau to "rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of".

And, he adds, "to those who seek to harm Americans consider this your warning. We will hunt you down in every corner of this planet."

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

Image source, Getty Images

Florida Senator Rick Scott is now on stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington DC.

“What do you think about Kash Patel?” Scott asks the crowd, referencing the newly confirmed FBI director.

It's the second reference to Patel at the conference that has brought loud cheers from the audience.

Scott goes on to list multiple Republican priorities, with one line receiving the most applause: eliminating the Department of Education.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, is now addressing the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

He was just asked about Congress passing another funding bill for US aid for Ukraine. Johnson responds: "There's no appetite for that".

“We have to bring an end to the conflict," Johnson says. "He (Trump) is the brute force that I think can make that happen."

At the White House, President Trump is expected to speak shortly from the East Room.

He's at a reception honouring Black History Month - stick with us and we'll bring you the key lines.

Earlier we brought you lines from a White House news briefing featuring press secretary Karoline Leavitt and a number of key White House advisors.

They used today's briefing to outline President Trump's actions during his first month in office, as well as taking questions on the war in Ukraine and federal job cuts. Here's a recap:

• National Security Adviser Mike Waltz claimed both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "only Trump" could end fighting between the two countries

• "If there's anybody in this world that can go toe-to-toe with Putin... it's Donald J Trump", he added, saying now was the time for European allies to "step up" in their role in the war
• Waltz also refused to say if Trump believes Putin is a dictator - having previously said the same about Zelensky - adding the president is "very frustrated" by his Ukrainian counterpart
• Leavitt championed what she said was an "incredible" first month for the administration, with "73 executive orders" signed and "18 cabinet-level employees" confirmed so far - adding that they expect Kash Patel to become the next later today
• The press secretary also confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to visit the White House next week

• Meanwhile National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett praised the work of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in cutting federal spending, and said he has met Mexican officials about "reciprocal trade" amid the threat of tariffs
• And ahead the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off final between the US and Canada, Leavitt said: "We look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state - Canada"

Rachel Looker
Reporting from CPAC in Maryland

We're now hearing from Republican Senator Jim Banks of Indiana at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland.

Banks tells the crowd he just came off the Senate floor where he voted to confirm Trump's choice to lead the FBI, Kash Patel.

Senators narrowly voted to confirm Patel by a vote of 51 to 49.

The mention of Patel's confirmation draws loud cheers and claps from conference attendees who give a standing ovation in response to the news.

Image source, Getty Images

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has become a last-minute addition to the roster of speakers at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

According to the schedule, he will now take to the stage at 16:15 local time (21:15 GMT).