Elon Musk made an appearance with President Trump during a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday, possibly for the last time, sporting a prominent black eye that he attributed to a playful encounter with his young son.
“I told him, ‘Go ahead, punch me in the face.’ And he did,” Musk recounted.
Musk has been facing challenges as well. Sources from the Trump administration reported to Reuters that the billionaire has been “exhausted and exasperated,” particularly due to the backlash against his businesses. Tesla’s board has reportedly begun looking for a new CEO, although the directors have denied this claim.
During his visit to the Oval Office, Musk aimed to frame his experiences in Washington as predominantly successful. He mentioned that, as a special government employee, he was limited to serving 130 days in that role. However, he assured that even after his departure, the Dogecoin (DOGE) initiative would persist.
“This is not the end of DOGE; instead, it marks a new beginning,” he declared while wearing a t-shirt that read “The Dogefather.” He expressed confidence in the growth of the DOGE team and its influence, likening it to a philosophical journey. “It’s like a way of life,” he said.
“This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning.”
Musk asserted that over time the team would work towards his ambitious goal of cutting $1 trillion in funding—even if they have not yet approached that figure. While Musk claimed DOGE had achieved $160 billion in cuts, experts suggest the actual savings are much lower. Additionally, the legacy of DOGE’s layoffs, rehiring practices, and use of paid leave may have cost the government approximately $135 billion, according to the Partnership for Public Service.
After a lengthy and somewhat disjointed introduction, Trump expressed gratitude to Musk for his contributions and presented him with a golden key featuring the White House insignia. He also hinted at skepticism regarding whether Musk would truly be stepping away for good.
“Elon has provided incredible service. There’s nobody quite like him,” Trump stated. “He’s endured slings and arrows, which is unfortunate because he’s a remarkable patriot.”
