On May 30, 2025, former US President Donald Trump publicly lauded Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk as Musk concluded his tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a statement on his social media platform TruthSocial, Trump announced a press conference scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 PM EST in the Oval Office, where Musk’s official departure from the government role would be addressed. Trump described Musk as “terrific” and emphasized that although this marked Musk’s final day managing DOGE, he would continue to support the administration closely.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific! See you tomorrow at the White House,” Trump wrote.
Musk had served as a “special government employee” under a legal 130-day limit after his appointment in January 2025. During his brief tenure, the department reportedly saved the administration approximately $175 million through initiatives such as asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud prevention, and spending reductions. Critics, however, have questioned the accuracy of these savings.
Musk’s appointment drew notable criticism from congressional Democrats. Representative Melanie Stansbury referred to Musk’s role as "reckless and illegal," asserting that outsourcing government duties to an unaccountable billionaire undermined governance. Representative Jasmine Crockett also criticized Musk's unelected influence within the executive branch.
Looking ahead, Musk plans to focus more on his leadership roles at Tesla and SpaceX, signaling a return to the private sector. Reports indicated Tesla shares rose 4.2% this week amid investor optimism. During a recent call with shareholders, Musk stated, “Starting in June, I’ll be allocating far more time to Tesla and SpaceX now that the groundwork at DOGE is in place.”
