Elon Musk ends official role in Trump Administration with a “not really leaving” vow

Elon Musk has officially wrapped up his role in the Trump administration, ending it with a joint news conference in the Oval Office alongside President Trump. The billionaire had served as a “special government employee” for the maximum allowed 130 days.

Musk was involved in DOGE, which stands for the Department of Government Efficiency, an advisory body aimed at cutting government spending and reducing the national debt, which currently sits at $36 trillion. Though not a formal government department, DOGE’s mission was to make government more efficient and save taxpayer money.

President Trump praised Musk’s work, saying, “He’s not really leaving. He’s going to be back and forth… It’s his baby.” Trump said Musk would remain involved unofficially, continuing to support DOGE’s goals.

Musk’s time in the administration sparked controversy, especially after DOGE oversaw deep spending cuts, including major layoffs in federal agencies and shutting down most USAID programs, which handle foreign aid. These actions led to backlash against Musk’s own companies. Protests and boycott calls hit Tesla hard, resulting in the company’s worst sales in years.

Despite the criticism, Trump called Musk’s efforts “the most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations,” crediting DOGE for changing the mindset of federal workers by targeting waste and fraud.

DOGE claims it has saved the government $175 billion as of May 29, though a BBC review found only $61.5 billion of that could be traced, with solid evidence for about $32.5 billion.

Musk said DOGE will continue its push to cut $1 trillion from the budget: “relentlessly.”

The event followed a CBS interview where Musk had expressed disappointment in Trump’s major spending bill, which includes large tax breaks and increases in defense funding. Though he didn’t repeat the criticism at the news conference, Trump defended the bill, calling it “unbelievable” and “amazing.”

Trump added, “There are two things I’d like to see. Maybe cut a little bit more. I’d like to see a bigger cut in taxes.”

When asked about a report alleging heavy drug use during Trump’s 2024 campaign, Musk dismissed the question, saying, “That New York Times? Let’s move on.” He also joked about his bruised eye, saying he told his young son X to punch him in the face: “I wasn’t anywhere near France.”