President Donald Trump officially bid farewell to Elon Musk during a joint press conference in the Oval Office on Friday, praising the billionaire’s contributions as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “Elon provided extraordinary service,” Trump said. “He wasn’t exactly popular, and he took a lot of hits—but he’s a true patriot.”
Early in the event, Trump played a CNBC segment praising his administration and DOGE, smiling from behind the Resolute Desk while Musk stood beside him wearing a black “DOGE” cap and a shirt that read “The Dogefather.” Trump went on to highlight several spending cuts Musk’s department had made, including the elimination of $45 million for “diversity, equity and inclusion scholarships in Burma” and $20 million for an Arabic-language version of Sesame Street. “Nobody even knows what that’s about,” Trump remarked.
To honor Musk’s departure after his 130-day tenure, Trump presented him with a symbolic gold key to the White House. Musk joined the administration in January after contributing $275 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign and helping Republicans secure wins. As DOGE’s leader, Musk set out to slash federal spending by as much as $2 trillion. So far, the department claims to have cut $175 billion.
“This isn’t the end of DOGE—it’s just the beginning,” Musk said, likening the department’s philosophy to a “way of life” and expressing confidence in reaching the $1 trillion goal.
The farewell comes just days after Musk publicly criticized Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” saying DOGE had become a political scapegoat. His involvement with the administration sparked backlash against Tesla, including vandalism of its vehicles and stores, contributing to a temporary drop in the company’s stock. Despite that, Tesla shares have since rebounded.
Trump concluded the press conference by commending Musk’s dedication, saying, “He doesn’t get the credit he deserves. He’s a very good person. We’ll remember you.”
