Elon Musk’s involvement with the Trump administration has officially come to a close, marked by a joint press conference held in the Oval Office where both Musk and President Trump defended the efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Despite Musk stepping away, Trump assured that Musk’s influence and involvement with the initiative would continue intermittently.
Calling Doge “his baby,” Trump emphasized that Musk is not fully stepping away but will remain engaged, coming “back and forth” to the White House. Musk’s tenure lasted 130 days — the maximum allowed under his status as a “special government employee.”
Doge, an advisory group rather than a formal government agency, aims to reduce federal spending, lower the national debt, and save taxpayer dollars. The US national debt currently sits at an alarming $36 trillion (£28.9 trillion).
However, Musk’s time with Doge sparked considerable controversy. His efforts were marked by widespread layoffs across multiple federal agencies and the near elimination of programs run by USAID, the country’s main foreign aid organization. This drew criticism and intensified scrutiny of Musk’s business ventures, including Tesla, which faced protests and boycott calls that contributed to a significant dip in sales.
At the press event, Trump praised Musk’s contributions, highlighting him as a driving force behind “one of the most sweeping government reform efforts in generations.” Trump claimed that Doge had changed federal officials’ attitudes, focusing on fraud detection and eliminating wasteful spending.
According to Doge’s own reporting, the initiative had saved the government $175 billion as of May 29. However, an independent BBC analysis from late April noted that only about $61.5 billion of these savings were clearly itemized, with evidence backing roughly $32.5 billion of that amount.
Trump reiterated that Musk was not entirely gone from the scene and predicted ongoing collaboration. Musk also expressed commitment to Doge’s mission, vowing to relentlessly pursue a goal of $1 trillion in cost savings.
This announcement came shortly after Musk’s interview with CBS, where he voiced disappointment over a recent “big, beautiful” legislative bill championed by Trump. The bill includes massive tax cuts and promises to boost defense spending. Musk had earlier criticized the bill, saying it undermined Doge’s goals, though he refrained from commenting on it during the Oval Office meeting.
Trump defended the legislation, calling it “unbelievable” and capable of “amazing things,” while also suggesting he would like to see further tax cuts.
The press conference took an unexpected turn when a reporter asked Musk about a recent New York Times story alleging heavy drug use during Trump’s 2024 campaign. Musk cut off the question, deflecting by referencing a judge’s recent decision allowing Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the Washington Post and New York Times over claims linked to his 2016 campaign and Russia.
When questioned about a visible bruise on his eye, Musk jokingly denied any connection to an incident involving French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron. Instead, he explained the injury was caused by his five-year-old son, X Æ A-12 (known as X), who had playfully punched him.