Billionaire Businessmen Trump and Musk Foreshow Agreement Amid Tesla CEO's Exit from Administration
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that billionaire Elon Musk will continue to serve as a close adviser, despite ending his stint as the head of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) following a tumultuous four-month tenure marked by significant policy shifts.
During a joint press conference in the Oval Office, President Trump praised Musk for his cost-cutting efforts, despite falling short of his initial promises. The DOGE initiative, which aimed to streamline government operations and reduce spending, resulted in thousands of job losses and the cancellation of billions of dollars in spending, including the majority of U.S. foreign aid.
"Elon is really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth," Trump said, with Musk standing to his right, sporting a black DOGE hat and a T-shirt with the phrase "The Dogefather." The press conference seemed designed to demonstrate unity after Musk's criticism of Trump's tax and spending bill as excessively costly caused frustration among White House officials.
Musk's critics within the administration, including Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, viewed his comments on the tax bill as a break from the administration, with Miller reportedly particularly upset by them.
In recognition of Musk's contribution, Trump presented him with a large golden key in a wooden box bearing his signature, a gesture reserved for "very special people." Musk, in turn, complimented the gold finishings Trump had installed in the Oval Office.
Previously, White House officials had insisted that Musk, the world's richest man, was a significant player who was not departing. However, as the expiration of his 130-day mandate as a special government employee approached, they began to view it as a natural endpoint.
Musk, for his part, has expressed his intention to focus more on his business empire, including Tesla and SpaceX, due to concerns from some investors that his DOGE involvement was too time-consuming.
[Notable portion from Enrichment Data]Musk's departure from the Department of Governmental Efficiency follows his expressed dissatisfaction with President Trump's legislative priorities, particularly the "big, beautiful bill," which Musk felt would increase the national debt and undermine the work of DOGE.
Critics and fact-checkers have questioned the claims of substantial savings made by Musk during his tenure at the DOGE. Despite these challenges, President Trump has shown support for Musk, highlighting his efficiency and cost-cutting measures.
- As a demonstration of unity amidst criticism, President Trump presented Elon Musk, the world's richest man, with a large golden key in the Oval Office, noting that such gestures are for "very special people."
- In a shift of focus, Elon Musk, the former head of the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE), and now a close adviser to President Trump, has expressed his intention to put more emphasis on his business empire, including Tesla and SpaceX.
- During his tenure at the DOGE, Elon Musk faced criticism over his policies, which some alleged undermined the work of the department. One such point of contention was Musk's opposition to President Trump's "big, beautiful bill."
- While Musk's cost-cutting efforts at the DOGE were praised by President Trump, these efforts, which resulted in job losses and cancellation of billions of dollars in spending, have been questioned by critics and fact-checkers.
