U.S. President Donald Trump turned his sights on defense spending, saying his government efficiency tzar, Elon Musk, would cut billions lost to waste and fraud from the Pentagon's $850 billion budget.

An American professor and a Japanese author, speaking to reporters Friday in Tokyo, said their nations should take a less militaristic approach to challenges in the region.

The president said in a Truth Social post that stopping the mint from coining new pennies is another way to reduce 'wasteful' government spending.