CNN host guffaws as host ridicules White House's Elon Musk excuse: 'Well played'

CNN's Audie Cornish guffawed at a panelist's observation about the White House turning down an offer by Elon Musk's offer to help end the funding impasse for the Department of Homeland Security.

The DHS has been partially shut down for five weeks, resulting in hours-long waits at airports as unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers walk off the job or call in sick. But Republicans have been unwilling to make changes sought by Democrats to reform Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations following a pair of fatal shootings earlier this year in Minnesota.

"A senior House Republican member on what it will take to break the DHS funding impasse," reported Fox News correspondent Chad Pergram, which Cornish read on air. "Quote, 'a couple more shootings or the lines to get even longer.'"

"That is ridiculous," reacted CNN's Betsy Klein, a senior White House reporter. "But that's the reality right now, and it doesn't seem like there is any movement on either side based on everything we are hearing on Capitol Hill and what we are hearing at the White House, which is just continuing to blame Democrats. But there is a very serious human toll here, and you're seeing that as DHS officials are going to have another week of $0 paycheck, and we're starting to hear those stories of TSA gainfully employed, fully employed people seeking assistance from food pantries."

"Yeah, and then you're hearing some pretty random offers here," Cornish added. "Elon Musk on social media on his X, [posted] 'I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse,' and then a White House spokesperson had to say, 'We greatly appreciate it, this would pose great legal challenge.'"

"Which might be the first time that the White House has actually said no to something for legal reasons, from Elon Musk," Klein interjected.

Cornish laughed aloud at her remark.

"Well played," Cornish said, recovering quickly.

President Donald Trump told reporters that he would "love it" and invited Musk to pay TSA workers, which would cost about $250 million, but administration officials noted that outside individuals are legally barred from directly paying government employees, although they can make donations through an account called "Gifts to the U.S. Government."

"We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer," said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. "This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts. The fastest way to ensure TSA employees — and all DHS employees — get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security."

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