Elon Musk’s time in the Trump administration has come to an end with a news conference in the Oval Office in which he and the US president defended the work of Doge – and vowed it would continue, even without Musk.
According to President Trump, Musk is “not leaving” and will continue to be “back and forth” to the White House.
“It’s his baby,” Trump said of Musk’s work with Doge, short for the cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk’s departure comes 130 days after Trump returned to office, the maximum allowable through his status as a “special government employee”.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump praised Musk, whom he credited with “tirelessly helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations”.
Trump added that the “mindsets” of federal officials have changed as a result of Doge’s work to detect fraud and “slash waste”.
Doge – which is an advisory body, rather than a formal government department – has the stated aim of slashing government spending, saving taxpayer money and reducing the US national debt, which stands at $36tn (£28.9tn).
