Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office last Friday, where the head of X expressed his desire to continue being “the friend and advisor” of the U.S. president and shrugged off accusations of drug use. The joint press conference at the White House marked the end of the billionaire’s unprecedented government venture. The world’s richest man, CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and the X social network, appeared with a bruise around his eye, attributing it to playing with his young son. Trump praised Musk’s efforts to reduce public spending as the public face of the government efficiency commission known as DOGE. Musk vented his frustration, stating, “We essentially became DOGE’s scapegoat, where any cuts anywhere would be attributed to DOGE.” The U.S. president also denounced “the outrageous attacks, slanders, and lies” that he claimed were directed at Musk. The billionaire avoided criticizing Donald Trump’s budget policies, although he had expressed disappointment with a recent congressional bill he deemed extravagant. As a token of appreciation, Trump gifted his ally and top campaign contributor with a golden key. “He’s not really leaving,” stated the Republican magnate. “I have a feeling (DOGE) is his baby, and I think he’s going to do a lot with it,” he added, dispelling rumors of a rift between them.
The press conference came after The New York Times reported that during the election campaign, Musk consumed large amounts of ketamine, a stimulant anesthetic, as well as ecstasy, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and other drugs. When confronted with the question, Musk deflected, dismissing the topic and accusing the newspaper of spreading “lies” about Trump’s relationship with Russia. Musk, dressed in black with his signature cap, sported a visible bruise on his right eye, attributing it to his son. He humorously recounted, “I was playing with little X, and I told him to hit me in the face. And he did,” referring to the child who accompanied him to the Oval Office in February. “I wasn’t even close to France,” he quipped, referencing a recent video showing Brigitte Macron swatting her husband, President Emmanuel Macron, as they disembarked from a plane. Amid questions about Gaza, China, and the budget, Trump was also asked about the viral incident, to which he jokingly advised, “Make sure the door stays closed.” “I spoke with him, and he’s fine, they’re fine,” he reassured.
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, DOGE implemented massive cuts to international aid, shuttered federal agencies, and laid off thousands of employees. However, they fell short of the extremely drastic targets they had set. Musk reiterated on Friday that DOGE, criticized for its brutal and opaque methods, would reduce public spending waste by “1 trillion dollars,” a figure deemed unrealistic by experts. An independent website, “Doge Tracker,” estimates that only $12 billion has been saved so far. Musk’s initiatives in government have made him unpopular in the U.S., while his support for extreme right-wing ideas and parties has sparked outrage in several European countries.
“We essentially became DOGE’s scapegoat, where any cuts anywhere would be attributed to DOGE.”
“He’s not really leaving. I have a feeling (DOGE) is his baby, and I think he’s going to do a lot with it.”
“I wasn’t even close to France.”
