Donald Trump and Elon Musk appeared together in the White House on Friday, staging a pointed display of unity as Musk officially stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Despite the resignation, both men emphasised their ongoing collaboration, with Trump calling Musk “terrific” and stating, “Elon will always be with us.”
The press conference followed growing speculation about tensions between the two, particularly over recent legislative developments. Musk criticised the administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” — a sweeping spending measure that raises the deficit by $2.3 trillion — citing cuts to clean energy programmes and what he described as fiscal recklessness. Nonetheless, both Trump and Musk sought to dispel rumours of a rift, underlining their continued alignment on broader goals.
Musk’s term as DOGE chief was marked by sweeping cost-cutting measures across federal departments. Originally projected to save $2 trillion over four years, the revised estimate now stands at $150 billion, prompting critics to argue that the political and operational costs outweighed the gains. Several agencies reportedly struggled to adapt to the rapid restructuring, with senior civil servants expressing concern over what they viewed as arbitrary downsizing.
Addressing questions around potential conflicts of interest given Musk’s private ventures — including Tesla and SpaceX — both men insisted that safeguards were in place. Musk claimed he had recused himself from all decisions that could directly impact his companies, saying, “I’ve never asked for a single favour. Not one.” The administration echoed that claim, though independent oversight bodies have yet to verify the full extent of recusal practices.
Musk used the occasion to restate his belief that federal bureaucracy had grown bloated and detached from the people it serves. “Democracy cannot function when the machinery of government resists the will of the electorate,” he said, arguing that his reforms were a necessary, if imperfect, attempt to restore accountability.
Despite the formal end of Musk’s tenure, Trump made clear that their partnership was far from over. “We’re going to keep working with Elon,” the president said, hinting at a possible advisory role outside the traditional government structure. The future of DOGE itself remains uncertain, with no successor named and the agency’s remit under review.
The press event, carefully choreographed and widely broadcast, appeared designed to reassure investors, Republican lawmakers, and tech-sector allies that the Trump-Musk axis remains intact. Whether this informal partnership will yield lasting policy results or further controversy remains to be seen.
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