Elon Musk Exits Donald Trump Administration After 4 Months
Originally appeared on E! Online
Elon Musk is done with his political duties.
The Tesla CEO will step away from his government role in President 's administration, Musk shared on X (formerly Twitter) May 28.
"As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending," he wrote. "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."
Before his exit, Musk had recently criticized a Republican-backed domestic policy bill for increasing the deficit, per NBC News.
"I was, like, disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it," Musk told CBS' "Sunday Morning" in an interview airing June 1. "And undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing."
Back in March, Trump told his cabinet that Musk would be vacating his position in the coming months, according to NBC News.
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In a private March 24 cabinet meeting, Trump revealed Musk—who has lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) since the administration began in January—would be transitioning back to the private sector.
The 47th president went on to call Musk a 'patriot' when cameras were brought in at the end of the meeting.
'He is a patriot,' Trump, 78, said, per NBC News. 'He's a friend of mine. He's become a friend of mine. He supported me in the election. That's when I got to know him. I knew him a little bit from the first term, but not much. But he's a patriot more than anything else.'
Trump also lauded Musk for 'never' seeking personal favors.
'He has never asked me for a thing,' the Apprentice alum continued. 'He could have. I always say, I wonder if he's ever going to ask me for something, and that's always subject to change, and if it does change, I'll let you know about it. But Elon has never asked me for a thing.'
As for why Musk, 53, is vacating his role? Trump noted his pal had other business to attend to—but wouldn't confirm the fate of DOGE.
'He's got a big company to run, and so at some point he's going to be going back,' Trump told reporters at a March 31 press conference. 'I keep [sic] him as long as I could keep him. He's a very talented guy. You know, I love very smart people. He's very smart, and he's done a good job.'
Indeed, Trump has been supported by Musk since the campaign trail and even had the SpaceX founder by his side at his Inauguration in January. A month later, Musk brought his and ex Grimes' 4-year-old son X Æ A-Xii Musk, to the White House for a meeting with the president.
And while Trump had his desk sent out to be refinished shortly after Musk's son was caught wiping his boogers on it, the president had nothing but glowing praise for the toddler.
'He's a great guy," Trump said. 'High-IQ individual.'
Meanwhile, Grimes—who also shares Exa, 3, and Techno Machanicus, 2, with Musk—later shared she 'did not know' or approve of the visit, but told a fan who effused over her son's manners over X, 'I'm glad he was polite. Sigh.'
Keep reading for a thorough look at Trump's cabinet...
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
Vice President JD VanceSecretary of State Marco RubioSecretary of Treasury Scott BessentSecretary of Defense Pete HegsethAttorney General Pam BondiSecretary of Interior Doug BurgumSecretary of Agriculture Brooke RollinsSecretary of Commerce Howard LutnickSecretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemerSecretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott TurnerSecretary of Transportation Sean DuffySecretary of Energy Chris WrightSecretary of Education Linda McMahonSecretary of Veterans Affairs Doug CollinsSecretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem
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