On Friday, President Donald Trump hosted a significant farewell event for Elon Musk in the Oval Office, marking the end of Musk’s brief and contentious role as the government’s chief cost-cutter.
The two leaders are set to hold a joint press conference at 1:30 PM local time, where Trump will attempt to portray Musk’s departure from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a position he held for only four months—as a positive change.
Trump, 78, affectionately referred to Musk as “terrific” during a statement on Thursday, suggesting that even though Musk is returning to his ventures with SpaceX and Tesla, his impact will be enduring.
“This may be his last day, but it’s not really goodbye. He’ll always be here, supporting us along the way,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Vice President JD Musk complimented Elon’s “incredible” work during an interview with Newsmax, assuring that the efforts of DOGE would persist.
However, this press conference will contrast sharply with Musk’s initial dramatic appearance in the Oval Office back in February, where he captured attention while visiting with his young son, even overshadowing the President at times.
During that visit, Musk, 53, was closely associated with Trump, accompanying him on Air Force One, Marine One, and during events at the White House and Mar-a-Lago.
Now, however, Musk departs Trump’s administration under less than favorable circumstances, having openly expressed his disappointment with his role and criticized the spending proposals put forth by the Republican president.
DOGE’s Controversial Actions
The DOGE initiative, driven by a right-wing agenda, aggressively pursued budget cuts across the federal government, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
It even led to the closure of entire departments, such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID), prompting significant reductions in overseas aid which some critics claim will adversely affect the world’s poorest populations while benefitting U.S. competitors.
Despite Musk’s grand claims when he arrived in Washington, boasting about cutting two trillion dollars with a chainsaw at a conservative event, the claimed results didn’t match his expectations.
Trump promoted DOGE’s role in eliminating “waste” and frequently cited supposed instances of fraud that Musk’s team uncovered, including social security beneficiaries supposedly older than the oldest known living person.
However, the independent resource, “Doge Tracker,” has reported only $12 billion in savings thus far, while the Atlantic estimates it’s closer to $2 billion.
Musk’s fast-paced, disruptive approach clashed with Washington norms, leading to conflicts with other cabinet members. Earlier this week, he shared his disappointment regarding Trump’s recent tax and spending measures that undermined DOGE’s fiscal cuts.
Meanwhile, Musk’s companies face challenges as well. Tesla shareholders are urging him to refocus on the company amid declining sales and protests targeting the electric vehicle manufacturer, while SpaceX has experienced several significant rocket failures.
At the Friday press conference, Musk might also face inquiries regarding a recent New York Times report alleging heavy drug use during his campaign efforts for Trump last year.
The article claimed that Musk admitted to friends that his excessive use of the anesthetic ketamine was affecting his bladder, a known consequence of chronic use.
Musk has previously acknowledged using ketamine, stating it was prescribed to help him cope with a “negative mindset,” and hints that his drug use might even be advantageous for Tesla investors.
