In a farewell news conference at the Oval Office, President Donald Trump praised Elon Musk's contributions to the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), emphasizing that Musk is "not really leaving" and will remain a consistent presence at the White House. According to Trump, Musk's involvement with Doge, which aims to minimize government expenditures and combat the nation’s $36 trillion debt, has had a significant impact on the federal landscape.
Musk's departure from his special status as a government employee comes after a tenure full of both advocacy and controversy. Notably, Doge has faced criticism following substantial layoffs within federal agencies and the downsizing of programs run by USAID. This scrutiny spurred global protests against Tesla and subsequent declines in sales.
During the conference, Trump extolled Musk for "tirelessly" working on what he termed the most consequential reform initiative in recent years. As a result of Doge's efforts, Trump stated that the government has supposedly saved $175 billion. However, independent analyses have indicated that only a fraction of these savings has been adequately documented.
Musk himself reiterated the agency's commitment to continue pursuing a trillion-dollar cut from the national budget, asserting that Doge will "relentlessly" focus on this goal. His comments came amid ongoing discussions about a controversial tax bill recently endorsed by Trump, which Musk has openly criticized for potentially undermining Doge's projects.
The news conference took unexpected turns when addressed on personal allegations regarding drug use and a visible bruise on his eye. Musk humorously dismissed the inquiries, implying a playful interaction with his son had led to the bruise and sidestepping questions about drug use by referring to ongoing legal matters regarding media publications.
As Musk concludes his time in the office, both he and Trump express a vision for the future of government reform—reflecting on the dynamic changes in the political landscape crafted during his notable tenure.
Musk's departure from his special status as a government employee comes after a tenure full of both advocacy and controversy. Notably, Doge has faced criticism following substantial layoffs within federal agencies and the downsizing of programs run by USAID. This scrutiny spurred global protests against Tesla and subsequent declines in sales.
During the conference, Trump extolled Musk for "tirelessly" working on what he termed the most consequential reform initiative in recent years. As a result of Doge's efforts, Trump stated that the government has supposedly saved $175 billion. However, independent analyses have indicated that only a fraction of these savings has been adequately documented.
Musk himself reiterated the agency's commitment to continue pursuing a trillion-dollar cut from the national budget, asserting that Doge will "relentlessly" focus on this goal. His comments came amid ongoing discussions about a controversial tax bill recently endorsed by Trump, which Musk has openly criticized for potentially undermining Doge's projects.
The news conference took unexpected turns when addressed on personal allegations regarding drug use and a visible bruise on his eye. Musk humorously dismissed the inquiries, implying a playful interaction with his son had led to the bruise and sidestepping questions about drug use by referring to ongoing legal matters regarding media publications.
As Musk concludes his time in the office, both he and Trump express a vision for the future of government reform—reflecting on the dynamic changes in the political landscape crafted during his notable tenure.
