US President Donald Trump painted Elon Musk as his enforcer-in-chief on Tuesday, hailing the tech billionaire’s zeal in implementing the blizzard of executive orders the president has issued since returning to office.

In a joint interview broadcast on Fox News, the two men spent substantial time singing the other’s praises and dismissing concerns that Trump is overstepping his executive powers.

Trump has signed scores of executive directives in the past three weeks, many of which have been challenged in the courts as potentially unconstitutional.

Billionaire Musk, who was Trump’s top donor during his 2024 presidential campaign, was tasked with leading the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), with the declared goal of rooting out “waste, fraud and abuse” in federal spending.

“One of the biggest functions of the DOGE team is just making sure that the presidential executive orders are actually carried out,” Musk told Fox News.

In the interview, Trump insisted his policies — including a wholesale onslaught on federal institutions — should be implemented without delay and said Musk was instrumental in pushing them forward.

“You write an executive order and you think it’s done, you send it out, it doesn’t get done. It doesn’t get implemented,” Trump said.

He added that Musk and the DOGE team have now become an enforcement mechanism within the federal bureaucracy to enact his administration’s agenda without anyone standing in their way — or else risk losing their jobs.

“And some guy that maybe didn’t want to do it, all of a sudden, he’s signing it,” Trump said.

‘The will of the people’

The Fox interview was broadcast just hours after Trump signed a sweeping executive order that sought to extend and consolidate direct White House control over federal regulatory agencies.

The order, which is likely to face legal challenges, would force agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit regulatory proposals to the White House for review.

“For the federal government to be truly accountable to the American people, officials who wield vast executive power must be supervised and controlled by the people’s elected president,” the executive order states.

Musk found humour in his role as Trump’s executor, describing himself as a “technologist” and donning a T-shirt that read “Tech Support” for the interview.

Musk waved off criticism that he was acting as if he were the US president, saying none of Trump’s cabinet members were elected and that he views his role as facilitating Trump’s agenda.

“The president is the elected representative of the people, so it’s representing the will of the people,” Musk explained.

“And if the bureaucracy is fighting the will of the people and preventing the president from implementing what the people want, then what we live in is a bureaucracy and not a democracy.”

President Elon?

Musk’s prominent role in the Trump administration has led to public questioning of who is really in charge at the White House, though the Republican leader was quick to dismiss rumours of bad blood between the two.

“Actually, Elon called me,” Trump said. “He said, ‘You know, they’re trying to drive us apart.’ I said, ‘Absolutely.’”

But Trump expressed confidence that Americans will not be fooled by alleged efforts to strain ties between him and Musk.

“I used to think they were good at it,” Trump said, referring to the media.

“They’re actually bad at it, because if they were good at it, I’d never be president.”

“The people are smart,” he went on. “They get it. “

US judge declines to block Musk from accessing data, firing workers

Separately, a US judge declined a request to temporarily block Musk and DOGE from firing federal employees and accessing agency data, a victory for Trump in his bid to shrink the government workforce.

Fourteen Democratic-ruled states had filed suit last week contesting Musk’s legal authority but District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied their emergency request to pause his actions.

“Plaintiffs have not carried their burden of showing that they will suffer imminent, irreparable harm absent a temporary restraining order,” Chutkan said.

DOGE is a free-ranging entity run by Musk, the world’s richest person and Trump’s biggest donor. The billionaire has taken an assertive role in the new administration, with his agency aiming to cut hundreds of billions of dollars in government spending.

His plans have effectively shuttered some federal agencies, sent thousands of staff members home and sparked legal battles across the country.

In their suit, the 14 states claimed that Musk and DOGE lacked statutory authority for their actions because he had not been formally nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

“[Musk] exercises virtually unchecked power across the Executive Branch, making decisions about expenditures, contracts, government property, regulations, and the very existence of federal agencies,” they said.

In addition, Musk and DOGE have gained access to “sensitive data, information, systems and technological and financial infrastructure across the federal government”, they added.

The 14 states had sought to block DOGE from accessing the data systems of the Office of Personnel Management and the Departments of Education, Labour, Health and Human Services, Energy, Transportation and Commerce, and from terminating any of their employees.

Chutkan, in her ruling, said: “The court is aware that DOGE’s unpredictable actions have resulted in considerable uncertainty and confusion for plaintiffs and many of their agencies and residents.

“But the ‘possibility’ that defendants may take actions that irreparably harm plaintiffs ‘is not enough,’” she said.

Musk’s cost-cutting spree has been met with legal pushback on several fronts and a mixed bag of rulings.

A different federal judge last week lifted a freeze he had temporarily imposed on a mass buyout plan offered by the Trump administration to federal workers.

In the mass buyout case, labour unions representing federal employees had filed suit to block the scheme masterminded by Musk to slash the size of government by encouraging federal workers to quit.

In an email titled “Fork in the Road”, the more than two million US government employees were given an offer to leave with eight months’ pay or risk being fired in future culls.

According to the White House, more than 75,000 federal employees signed on to the buyout offer from the Office of Personnel Management.

Trump’s executive actions have been challenged in dozens of court cases and the White House has accused “judges in liberal districts” of “abusing their power” to block the president’s moves.

The decisions have come from judges nominated by both Republican and Democratic presidents, including Trump himself during his first term.

Chutkan, an appointee of Democratic former president Barack Obama, presided over the now-abandoned case against Trump on charges of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Before Melora Hardin starred in "The Office," she headed to the prairie.

The actress, who got her start in Hollywood as a child, auditioned for "Little House on the Prairie" when she was 9 years old. She was later cast in an episode to play Belinda, one of Albert Ingalls’ (Matthew Labyorteaux) classmates.

The 57-year-old, who has recently launched a collage-style wallpaper line, Storyboards by Melora Hardin, has fond memories of helping to bring the hit series to life. She told Fox News Digital that Michael Landon, who starred as beloved patriarch Charles Ingalls and directed the series, was revered on set by the fellow "Prairie" kids.

‘LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE’ STAR ALISON ARNGRIM SAYS NETFLIX REBOOT CAN'T RECREATE MICHAEL LANDON'S 'MAGIC'

"Michael Landon made everyone feel safe," she recalled. "He trusted in us, and we trusted in him. He was protective of us. And I think that was one of the most important lessons I learned early on [in Hollywood] – surround yourself with the people who make you feel safe."

"I’ve always said that acting and making movies and TV are one of the greatest team sports around," she shared. "And I believe Michael Landon was my first example of that. I learned from him right away. And it just felt amazing to be around people who made you feel safe to be a fool in front of, to fail in front of. As a performer, especially that young, it felt good to not feel constantly judged or challenged."

WATCH: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE CHILD STAR SAYS SET WAS LIKE ‘MAD MEN’

"It’s about working with great collaborators and not tolerating a--holes," she said. "He didn’t have any a--holes on set. And I think that’s super important. If you feel safe, then you can do great work."

Hardin had already been working "for a long time already" in showbusiness when she joined "Little House." But Landon was different, she shared.

"I worked with people who weren’t quite as nice as he was," said Hardin. "We had school on the set, and it was just so much fun to have other kids in school with you, working with you."

"A lot of times I would be doing a movie or something, and I’d be the only [kid] in the room," Hardin continued. "I’d be the only one in the classroom with the set teacher. And it was such a joy to have other kids when you got to be in class with them and then work with them. That was joyful. We would also play games. It was a really fun way to be a child, to be a child actor. It was certainly a highlight."

Hardin revealed that from the moment she walked on set, Landon was "so warm."

"He worked great with kids," she gushed. "He really knew how to make us feel comfortable. He would let us do our thing. He wasn’t a meddling director. He was very joyful. 

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"He had a longtime relationship with his crew and he surrounded people he really trusted. So it was seamless. He was just joyful. I never felt he was stressed. Maybe he was [working behind the scenes], but I never felt it as a kid. He just seemed to be having a great time… Everybody seemed to be smiling in my world as a young kid."

Hardin also instantly bonded with Labyorteaux, 58.

"I remember during my first audition, we had to do this flashback sequence of us dancing together," she recalled. "I was a dancer. I started dancing at 5. I was very serious about ballet. He was not yet cast as Albert, but he was cast as a young Charles [Ingalls]. We danced together, and he later told me he really wanted me to get the part because I didn’t step on his toes like the other girls did."

Hardin returned for the 1983 TV movie "Little House: Look Back to Yesterday." She played a new character, Michele, who was Albert’s love interest. They shared their first on-screen kiss.

"We both had a crush on each other," she said. "It was an incredibly sweet moment. I think it was something that we were both nervous about and we both enjoyed it. That’s a forever memory for me. And we became best friends. He’s my youngest daughter’s godfather. It was a wonderful, fortuitous moment in our lives."

"Little House on the Prairie" concluded after nine seasons in 1983. Landon passed away in 1991 at age 54 from pancreatic cancer. It was a somber time for the cast.

WATCH: ‘LITTLE HOUSE’ STAR MICHAEL LANDON WAS STUBBORN ABOUT HIS HEALTH: DAUGHTER

"I was still so young when he died, but I remember we were all sad," she said. "… But I was just so happy that I had that time with him, that time we shared on set and the creative experience we shared. I got to witness what a lovely person he was. I will always remember him like that."

Today, Harden has been keeping busy with her wallpaper line.

"My interest in art started really young," she explained. "My dad’s an actor and an artist. And I think I learned very young from him that, yes, you can be an actor, but it’s also really important to have other things you’re passionate about. And I’ve been passionate about art, and I’ve always been passionate about collage. I don’t think I was ever a great artist. I tried painting. But it didn’t spark me in the way that collage does."

"When I made my first film, I realized that collaging is sort of what you did in the editing room," she shared. "It all goes together. I’m a songwriter and that’s like collaging, too, because you’re putting together words and melodies in a way that belong together somehow. I think it’s always been who I am."

In January, Netflix confirmed that a reboot of the classic show had been given the green light. The streaming giant described it as "a transformed adaptation." It will feature Rebecca Sonnenshine of "The Boys" and "The Vampire Diaries" as showrunner and executive producer.

Hardin feels it should be given a chance.

"There’s certainly a place for some sweet, feel-good content," said Hardin. "I remember when a new ‘Hawaii Five-0’ was announced. I thought, ‘I remember when that was on when I was a kid,' and I loved it. Can they do it justice?’ 

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"I think it’s the same feeling here [for fans]. When you lived during the time of the original and got to experience it, of course you’re going to feel like, ‘There’s no way they will be able to do it just as well.’ But that’s not trust."

"I think now is a great time for feel-good content," she said. "We need some sweetness. We need some entertainment. I do think there’s a need for warmth and stories that celebrate commitment to family. I think that’s important."

"I think those good values of the olden days would be a nice thing to have on TV today for young people," she continued. "So much stuff these days is jaded and so dark. And yet, ‘Little House’ was just filled with so much love, heart and good values. Who wouldn’t want to experience that today?"