Elon Musk Says ‘Will Continue As Trump Advisor’ After Steps Down From DOGE Department
Elon Musk officially stepped down as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on Friday, ending his 130-day tenure in the Trump administration while announcing he will continue serving as an advisor to President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Trump at the Oval Office, Musk declared he would maintain his White House presence despite officially leaving his government role. “I will continue to be visiting here and be a friend and advisor to the President,” the Tesla and SpaceX CEO stated.
Musk emphasized that his departure does not signal the end of DOGE’s mission to reduce government waste. “This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning. The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time,” he said, standing alongside Trump.
The department, which Musk led since its inception, aims to cut government waste by an ambitious trillion dollars. “It is permeating throughout the government, and I am confident that, over time, we will see a trillion dollars of waste and fraud reduction,” Musk added.
Musk’s exit comes amid his vocal criticism of Trump’s proposed “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The tech mogul described the legislation as a “massive spending bill” that would undermine the fiscal reforms DOGE has implemented during his tenure.
This disagreement reportedly contributed to his decision to step down from the official government position, though he maintains his advisory relationship with the president.
President Trump lauded Musk’s contributions during the press conference, describing his work as “the most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations.” Trump indicated that Musk’s influence would continue despite the official departure.
“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific!” Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday, ahead of the announcement.
The president expressed hope that Musk would “be going to be back and forth” to stay updated on government operations, describing him as “terrific” and promising continued collaboration.
Musk’s return to focus on his companies comes as Tesla faces mounting criticism over his political involvement. The electric vehicle manufacturer has encountered ‘Tesla Takedown’ protests, with some showrooms attacked and vehicles set on fire.
These demonstrations reflect growing opposition to Musk’s active participation in the Trump administration among certain consumer groups and activists.
With his government duties concluded, Musk will redirect his attention to his business empire, including Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X. The transition allows him to address challenges facing his companies while maintaining his political influence through his advisory role.
The Department of Government Efficiency was established as part of Trump’s broader government reform agenda, with Musk appointed to lead efforts in identifying and eliminating federal waste and inefficiency.
During his tenure, the department implemented various cost-cutting measures and identified numerous areas for potential savings across federal agencies.
