Trump Praises Elon Musk and DOGE as Tesla CEO Steps Down Amid Government Departure

Tesla CEO Elon Musk made a dramatic exit from his role as government advisor at an Oval Office press conference, sporting a conspicuous black eye and sidestepping persistent rumors about drug abuse. Despite stepping down, Musk pledged to remain a "friend and advisor" to President Donald Trump, emphasizing his continued involvement in an unofficial capacity.

During the event, President Trump praised Musk's "incredible service" to the administration and presented him with a symbolic golden key to the White House. However, Trump was quick to reassure reporters and the public that Musk would not be entirely absent from government affairs. "Many of the DOGE people are staying on," said Trump, referring to the cost-cutting task force Musk led. "And Elon's really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth."

The president also reaffirmed the administration's intention to make the budget cuts executed by the DOGE team permanent, stating that efforts would be made to have Congress codify these changes. Despite Musk's initial ambition to save $2 trillion, actual reported savings have been a matter of debate. The White House places the figure at $170 billion in savings so far, while independent trackers and magazines put the number significantly lower.

Attention at the press conference quickly shifted to the vivid bruise around Musk's right eye, with speculation running rampant regarding its cause. The situation was further complicated by recent allegations outlined in the New York Times, claiming that Musk had engaged in heavy ketamine use during the 2024 campaign, resulting in health complications.

Musk addressed the injury directly, attributing it to a playful incident with his young son, known as "lil’ X." He recounted, "I was just horsing around with lil' X, and I said, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face.' And he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is..." Musk trailed off, leaving the audience both amused and skeptical.

However, the Tesla CEO declined to answer questions related to the drug abuse allegations. The New York Times report described Musk as not only a significant donor to Trump's campaign but also as someone frequently traveling with a supply of ecstasy and psychoactive mushrooms in addition to ketamine.

Known for his adversarial stance against traditional media, Musk chose instead to criticize the newspaper and promote his own social platform, X, as a preferable alternative for discourse. His resignation follows increasing disillusionment with his position in the administration and explicit criticism of President Trump’s recent tax and spending plans, which Musk claimed threatened to undermine the very savings DOGE achieved.

Outside the political spotlight, Musk’s business interests have also faced pressure. Recent weeks have seen disappointing sales figures for Tesla, calls from shareholders for Musk to focus on company operations, and a series of rocket mishaps at SpaceX. As both the political and business worlds react to Musk’s high-profile departure, questions remain about the future direction of both DOGE initiatives and Musk's companies.