Trump lauds Musk as special adviser in farewell Oval Office appearance

President Donald Trump bid farewell to billionaire Elon Musk from his position as a senior adviser focused on reducing government size through program cuts and employee departures. Musk, dressed in all black, joined Trump in the Oval Office of the White House after serving 130 days as a special government employee overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency.

During a press briefing, Trump praised Musk as a remarkable business leader and innovator, acknowledging his significant contributions to the nation. Musk, who Forbes estimates to be worth $421.2 billion, claimed to have identified over $160 billion in federal spending cuts since Trump took office. Despite his initial goal of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget, Musk now aims for $1 trillion in savings.

While Musk is stepping down from his government role, Trump mentioned that Musk will still be involved in certain capacities. Musk expressed his intention to continue advising informally and make visits to the White House as needed. He also plans to focus on his companies including Tesla, SpaceX, and artificial intelligence startup xAI.

Following his departure announcement, Musk was presented with a symbolic gold key to the White House during the public appearance with Trump. Despite the transition, Musk emphasized his commitment to the DOGE initiative and expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to work with the government.