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When it comes to cutting government waste, it seems even former President Barack Obama once had a lot to say.

In a video dating back to 2011, Obama addressed the pressing need to tackle unnecessary government spending, including programs that he admitted "a lot of people care about." He emphasized the importance of eliminating waste, calling it a key step in reducing the deficit. "No amount of waste is acceptable, especially when it’s your money," he noted, urging the government to live within its means just as families do.

Obama didn’t hold back on examples either. He humorously pointed out a federal website dedicated to a folk music ensemble called the ‘Fiddlin’ Foresters.’ While he appreciated their music enough to say he’d add it to his iPod, he drew the line at taxpayer funding for their website. He also criticized the existence of thousands of unused government buildings, labeling them as another glaring example of "stupid spending."

To lead this effort, Obama said he had tasked then-Vice President Joe Biden with hunting down misspent tax dollars. Biden, appearing in the same clip, acknowledged the enormity of the task, noting it would require "relentless focus." Both men expressed a commitment to making government more efficient.

Fast forward to today, and conservative voices have resurfaced this video as a reminder that calls for spending cuts aren’t just a Republican talking point. Figures like Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, and even Elon Musk shared the clip, with Musk joking that Obama sounded like DOGE. Sports radio host Glenn Ordway weighed in, observing that Trump’s recent spending cuts echo the same strategy Obama advocated years ago, though the reaction from Democrats back then was far less critical.

Podcast host Joe Rogan noted the irony of how it took over a decade and figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump to turn Obama’s rhetoric into action. Rep. Roy quipped, "There’s a video/tweet for everything (2011)."

The resurfaced clip offers a striking reminder that, regardless of political affiliation, the issue of government waste remains a bipartisan concern—at least in theory. Whether it's Obama, Trump, or anyone else, the challenge of cutting "pointless waste" seems destined to circle back into the spotlight again and again.

Representatives for the Obamas did not respond to requests for comment on the video.