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US President Donald Trump today bid a high-profile farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office, as the tech billionaire concludes his controversial tenure leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump lauded Musk for enacting "a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington," while Musk prepares to refocus on his vast business empire, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X.
Musk's time at the helm of DOGE has been marked by a radical overhaul of the federal bureaucracy, resulting in the dismissal or forced departure of thousands of government employees. Several government functions faced severe cutbacks, most notably the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which had historically provided critical aid to vulnerable populations worldwide. Researchers at Boston University have tragically estimated that these cuts have already led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
In a symbolic gesture of appreciation for his efforts in establishing DOGE and its mission to streamline federal spending through layoffs and agency closures, President Trump presented Musk with what appeared to be a gold-colored key. Trump stated that this gift is reserved for "very special people" and represented a "presentation from our country."
Responding to the commendation, Musk expressed his desire to "continue to provide advice whenever the president would like." Trump interjected, "I hope so," before Musk reiterated his long-term ambition to achieve $1 trillion in federal spending cuts.
The President indicated that Musk's departure might not be a permanent one, suggesting, "He’s going to be back and forth, I imagine." Trump also confirmed that key DOGE employees would remain embedded within government agencies, implying that Musk would likely continue to monitor "his baby."
