Trump gives Elon Musk Oval Office sendoff, credits him with 'colossal change'
Last Updated:
Washington, May 30 (AP) US President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, providing a cordial conclusion to a tumultuous tenure for the billionaire entrepreneur.
Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and he'll be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric automaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X.
Trump credited Musk with 'a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington" and said some of his staff would remain in the administration.
Musk, who wore all black, including a T-shirt that said 'The Dogefather", nodded along as the president listed contracts that had been cut under his watch.
'I think the DOGE team is doing an incredible job. They're going to continue to be doing an incredible job," Musk said after accepting a ceremonial key from the president.
He left a searing mark on the federal bureaucracy, including thousands of employees who were fired or pushed out. Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world.
Boston University researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have already died as a result of the cuts.
The State Department responded by saying most of USAID's programmes on HIV, known as PEPFAR, remained operational. However, the statement did not address any of the other cuts while calling on 'other nations to dramatically increase their humanitarian efforts".
Despite the upheaval, Musk also fell far short of his goals. After promising to cut USD 1 trillion or even USD 2 trillion in federal spending, he lowered expectations to only USD 150 billion in the current fiscal year.
It's unclear whether that target has been hit. The DOGE website tallies USD 175 billion in savings, but its information has been riddled with errors and embellishments.
Musk had a bruise next to his right eye in the Oval Office, which he explained by saying he had been 'horsing around" with his young son.
'I said, go ahead punch me in the face," he said. 'And he did." Trump said Musk led the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform effort in generations".
He suggested that Musk is 'really not leaving" and 'he's going to be back and forth" to keep tabs on what's happening in the administration.
There were signs, however, that attention was already shifting away from Musk, who once appeared omnipresent in Washington.
He often stood quietly next to Trump as reporters peppered him with questions about the French president (he's great), Joe Biden's autopen (it's bad) and the potential for pardoning Sean 'Diddy" Combs (he'll look at the facts).
When Musk was asked about the impact of tariffs on Tesla — something Musk has expressed concerns about in the past — Trump jumped in to answer.
Musk, the world's richest person, recently said he would reduce his political donations. He was Trump's top donor in last year's presidential campaign.
Trump appeared eager to end Musk's service on a high note.
'This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way," Trump wrote on social media on Thursday evening. 'Elon is terrific!" As a special government employee, Musk's position was designed to be temporary. However, he speculated about staying 'indefinitely", working part time for the administration, if Trump still wanted his help.
Musk has brushed off questions about how DOGE would continue without him, even suggesting it could 'gain momentum" in the future.
'DOGE is a way of life," he told reporters recently. 'Like Buddhism." (AP) ARI
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
Gold Price Prediction: Will Gold Hit Rs 1,10,000 Per 10 grams? Here's What Experts Say
Last Updated: Gold and silver saw sharp volatility on Thursday, initially falling after a US Federal Court blocked Trump's tariff plan; Good time to invest? Gold Price Prediction: Investors booked profits in gold on Friday, May 30, as June MCX gold futures opened lower by Rs 592, or 0.62%, at Rs 94,797 per 10 grams, amid concerns about Trump-era tariffs and volatile trade. This was despite supportive preliminary GDP data showing an economic contraction, which had earlier boosted gold's safe-haven appeal. Analysts remain bullish on gold, projecting a potential rise to Rs 1,10,000 per 10 grams within a year, citing gold's consistent track record of delivering solid long-term returns. On Thursday, gold and silver futures closed higher in domestic and global markets. Gold June futures settled at Rs 95,389/10g with a 0.12% gain, and silver July futures at Rs 97,826/kg, up 0.59%. However, on Friday, silver July futures at MCX also opened lower by Rs 884, or 0.9%, at Rs 96,942/kg. Gold and silver saw sharp volatility on Thursday, initially falling after a US Federal Court blocked Trump's tariff plan. However, prices recovered after President Trump announced plans to appeal the ruling. Meanwhile, the dollar index slipped as US jobless claims rose more than expected, lending support to bullion prices. Currently, the US Dollar Index (DXY) is hovering near 99.44, up 0.16%. US jobless claims increased last week to 240,000, higher than expectations of 229,000. Preliminary GDP data also signaled contraction, adding to gold's safe-haven demand. Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvifinmart Commodity Research expects gold and silver prices to remain volatile, driven by dollar index fluctuations, geopolitical tensions, and key US data releases. 'Gold could hold support at $3,250/oz and silver at $32.80/oz on a weekly closing basis," he said. Rahul Kalantri, VP Commodities at Mehta Equities Ltd., noted that while gold plunged initially after the US court ruling, prices bounced back amid growing economic concerns. 'Gold has support at $3,274-3,255 and resistance at $3,322-3,340; silver's support is at $32.82-32.65 and resistance at $33.35-33.55," Kalantri said. In INR terms, gold has support at Rs 94,910-94,580 and resistance at Rs 95,750-95,940. Silver's support is at Rs 96,480-95,750, with resistance at Rs 97,950-98,750. Trading Strategy Manoj Kumar Jain suggests: Gold price prediction Angel One expects gold to continue delivering strong returns, projecting a price of $4,000/oz internationally and Rs 1,10,000/10g domestically within a year. They suggest accumulating around Rs 85,000/10g for long-term investment. First Published: May 30, 2025, 14:06 IST
Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
European Union warns of retaliation over Trump's steel tariff hike
The European Commission said it is ready to impose countermeasures in response to US President Donald Trump's decision to double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. The move is set to take effect on June 4. The tariff hike — from 25% to 50% — was announced on Friday during Trump's speech near Pittsburgh, where he promoted a $14.9 billion deal between Nippon Steel and US Steel as a win for domestic jobs. The president later clarified on social media that the higher rate would apply to both steel and aluminum imports. EU condemned the decision, saying it jeopardises negotiations. A spokesperson for the European Commission called it a step that 'undermines ongoing efforts to reach a negotiated solution.' The spokesperson added, 'This decision adds further uncertainty to the global economy and increases costs for consumers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.' The Commission stressed that it had paused retaliatory action earlier to allow for continued dialogue, but warned that preparations for expanded countermeasures are now underway. 'If no mutually acceptable solution is reached, both existing and additional EU measures will automatically take effect on 14 July — or earlier, if circumstances require,' the official said. The planned US tariff hike has sparked sharp criticism from international trade partners. Canada's Chamber of Commerce called the move 'antithetical to North American economic security.' Candace Laing, president of the chamber said, 'Unwinding the efficient, competitive and reliable cross-border supply chains like we have in steel and aluminum comes at a great cost to both countries.' Canada's United Steelworkers union echoed that sentiment, describing the decision as a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers. Australia, another US ally, also condemned the measure. Trade Minister Don Farrell said the move was 'unjustified and not the act of a friend.' The US remains the world's largest steel importer outside the EU, having imported 26.2 million tons in 2024, according to the Department of Commerce. Analysts warn that the increased tariffs will likely drive up domestic prices for both steel and aluminum, raising costs for manufacturers and consumers. (With inputs from Reuters)
Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Putin's tough stance on a Ukraine peace plan shows his resolve on Russia's demands
At the same time, he has sought to avoid angering U.S. President Donald Trump by praising his diplomacy and declaring Moscow's openness to peace talks — even as he set maximalist conditions that are rejected by Kyiv and the West. Trump, who once promised to end the 3-year-old war in 24 hours, has upended the U.S. policy of isolating Russia by holding calls with Putin and denigrating Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the same time, however, Trump warned Putin against 'tapping me along' and threatened Moscow with sanctions if it fails to back his peace proposals. In recent days, Trump signaled he was losing patience with Putin, declaring the Russian leader had gone 'crazy' by stepping up aerial attacks on Ukraine. He also said: 'What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!' Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who serves as deputy head of Putin's Security Council, fired back: 'I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!' Fyodor Lukyanov, a Moscow-based analyst familiar with Kremlin thinking, said Putin is engaged in a 'psychological game' with Trump, with both men thinking they understand each other well. 'Putin's tactics is apparently based on an assumption that the issue has a lesser priority for his interlocutor, who wants to get rid of it one way or another, while for the Russian side, nothing compares to it in importance,' Lukyanov wrote a commentary. 'In this logic, the one who sees it as something of lesser importance will eventually make concessions.' While Ukraine's European allies urge Trump to ramp up sanctions against Moscow to force it to accept a ceasefire, some fear that Trump may end up distancing the U.S. from the conflict. If the U.S. halts or reduces military aid to Kyiv, it would badly erode Ukraine's fighting capability. Kyiv already is experiencing a weapons shortage, particularly air defense systems, leaving it increasingly vulnerable to Russian missile and drone attacks. Across the over 1,000-kilometer front line, the exhausted and outgunned Ukrainian troops are facing increasing Russian pressure. This month, Russian forces accelerated their slow push across the Donetsk region, the focus of Moscow's offensive, grinding through Ukrainian defenses at the quickest pace since last fall. Russia also expanded its attacks in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions following Putin's promise to create a buffer zone along the border. Many observers expect Russia to expand its offensive over the summer to try to capture more land and set even tougher conditions for peace. 'Moscow thinks its leverage over Ukraine will build over time, and since Trump has strongly implied that he will withdraw from negotiations the Russian military is set to intensify its operations,' said Jack Watling of the Royal United Services Institute in London. He predicted Russia would intensify efforts to take all of the Donetsk region while also pressing a bombing campaign. 'The Kremlin will want to suggest a deteriorating situation as negotiations continue and to signal to Europe that the rear is not safe, to discourage European militaries from putting forces in country,' Watling said in an analysis. Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin, Moscow-based analyst, said the long-expected offensive hasn't yet begun in earnest as Russia is cautious not to anger Trump. 'If Kyiv derails peace talks, the Russian army will start a big offensive,' he said. Putin has demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — the four regions that Russia illegally annexed in September 2022 but never fully controlled. That demand had been rejected by Kyiv and its allies, but the Russian delegation reportedly repeated it during talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 16. Those talks, the first since botched negotiations in the opening weeks of the war, came after Putin effectively rejected a 30-day truce proposed by Trump that was accepted by Kyiv. Russia had linked such a ceasefire to a halt in Ukraine's mobilization effort and a freeze on Western arms supplies. Putin proposed talks to discuss conditions for a possible truce. Trump quickly prodded Kyiv to accept the offer, but the negotiations yielded no immediate progress except an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Russia offered to hold another round of talks Monday in Istanbul, where it said it will present a memorandum setting conditions for ending hostilities. It refused to share the document before the negotiations. Some observers see the talks as an attempt by Putin to assuage Trump's growing impatience. 'Putin has devised a way to offer Trump an interim, tangible outcome from Washington's peace efforts without making any real concessions,' said Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Facing Western accusations of stalling, the Kremlin responded that the conflict can't be resolved quickly and emphasized the need to address its 'root causes.' When Putin invaded Ukraine, he said the move was needed to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO and protect Russian speakers in the country -– arguments strongly rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies as a cover for an unprovoked act of aggression. Along with those demands, Putin also wants limits on Ukraine's sovereignty, including the size of Ukraine's military, and for Kyiv to end what Moscow sees as glorification of Ukraine's World War II-era nationalist leaders, some of whom sided with the invading forces of Nazi Germany over the Soviet leadership in the Kremlin. Seeking to underline that Moscow will press home its initial demands, Putin appointed his aide Vladimir Medinsky to lead the Russian delegation in Istanbul. He also led the Russian side in the 2022 talks. Kyiv reportedly has asked the U.S. to encourage Putin to replace him. The soft-spoken, 54-year-old career bureaucrat, who was born in Ukraine, ascended through the Kremlin ranks after writing a series of books exposing purported Western plots against Russia. In an interview with Russian state television after the May 16 talks, Medinsky pointed to Russia's 18th century war with Sweden that lasted 21 years, a signal that Moscow is prepared to fight for a long time until its demands are met. 'History repeats itself in a remarkable way,' he said.
