Latest news with #Dogefather
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Elon Musk moved fast in Washington, but broke only his reputation
I take it personally because my dad spent 20 years as a police inspector in Washington in charge of Senate security. He would run to the House whenever there was trouble. So if on January 6 Mike Dowd had been preventing insurrectionists from assaulting lawmakers, he would now be, in Trump's eyes, not a hero deserving of a plaque, but a blackguard who was thwarting 'patriots,' as Trump calls the rioters he pardoned. Loading It is a disturbing bizarro world. Trump was rewriting reality again as one of the most flamboyant, destructive bromances in government history petered out in the Oval Office. It had peaked last winter when Musk posted on social platform X, 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,' and again when Trump tried to reciprocate by hawking Teslas in the White House driveway. But Friday, even these grand master salesmen couldn't sell the spin that Elon had 'delivered a colossal change.' Musk has acknowledged recently that his dream of cutting $US1 trillion ($1.5 trillion) had been a fantasy. He said changing Washington was 'an uphill battle' and complained that Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill, which could add over $US3 trillion ($4.6 trillion) in debt, could undercut his DOGE attempts to save money. As Trump said, Musk got a lot of 'the slings and the arrows.' His approval rating cratered and violence has been directed toward Tesla, a brand once loved by liberals and in China, which is now tarnished. Musk cut off a reporter who tried to ask about a Times article asserting that he was a habitual user of ketamine and a dabbler in ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms even after Trump had given him enormous control over the government. That could explain the chain saw-wielding, the jumping up and down onstage, the manic baby-making and crusading for more spreading of sperm by smart people, and the ominous Nazi-style salutes. Loading When a reporter asked Musk why he had a black eye, he joked about the viral video of Brigitte Macron shoving her husband's face. Then he explained that while 'horsing around' with his 5-year-old, X, he suggested the child punch him in the face, 'and he did.' The president and the Tony Stark prototype tried to convey the idea that they would remain tight, even though Musk would no longer be getting into angry altercations with Scott Bessent outside the Oval, sleeping on the floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and hanging around Mar-a-Lago. Musk, wearing a black 'DOGE' cap and black 'Dogefather' T-shirt, looked around the Oval, which Trump has tarted up to look like a Vegas gift shop, and gushed that it 'finally has the majesty that it deserves, thanks to the president.' Trump gave Musk a golden ceremonial White House key, the kind of thing small-town mayors give out, and proclaimed: 'Elon's really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth, I think.' Trump said that the father of (at least) 14 would never desert DOGE completely because 'It's his baby.'
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Elon Musk moved fast in Washington, but broke only his reputation
I take it personally because my dad spent 20 years as a police inspector in Washington in charge of Senate security. He would run to the House whenever there was trouble. So if on January 6 Mike Dowd had been preventing insurrectionists from assaulting lawmakers, he would now be, in Trump's eyes, not a hero deserving of a plaque, but a blackguard who was thwarting 'patriots,' as Trump calls the rioters he pardoned. Loading It is a disturbing bizarro world. Trump was rewriting reality again as one of the most flamboyant, destructive bromances in government history petered out in the Oval Office. It had peaked last winter when Musk posted on social platform X, 'I love @realDonaldTrump as much as a straight man can love another man,' and again when Trump tried to reciprocate by hawking Teslas in the White House driveway. But Friday, even these grand master salesmen couldn't sell the spin that Elon had 'delivered a colossal change.' Musk has acknowledged recently that his dream of cutting $US1 trillion ($1.5 trillion) had been a fantasy. He said changing Washington was 'an uphill battle' and complained that Trump's 'big, beautiful' budget bill, which could add over $US3 trillion ($4.6 trillion) in debt, could undercut his DOGE attempts to save money. As Trump said, Musk got a lot of 'the slings and the arrows.' His approval rating cratered and violence has been directed toward Tesla, a brand once loved by liberals and in China, which is now tarnished. Musk cut off a reporter who tried to ask about a Times article asserting that he was a habitual user of ketamine and a dabbler in ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms even after Trump had given him enormous control over the government. That could explain the chain saw-wielding, the jumping up and down onstage, the manic baby-making and crusading for more spreading of sperm by smart people, and the ominous Nazi-style salutes. Loading When a reporter asked Musk why he had a black eye, he joked about the viral video of Brigitte Macron shoving her husband's face. Then he explained that while 'horsing around' with his 5-year-old, X, he suggested the child punch him in the face, 'and he did.' The president and the Tony Stark prototype tried to convey the idea that they would remain tight, even though Musk would no longer be getting into angry altercations with Scott Bessent outside the Oval, sleeping on the floor of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and hanging around Mar-a-Lago. Musk, wearing a black 'DOGE' cap and black 'Dogefather' T-shirt, looked around the Oval, which Trump has tarted up to look like a Vegas gift shop, and gushed that it 'finally has the majesty that it deserves, thanks to the president.' Trump gave Musk a golden ceremonial White House key, the kind of thing small-town mayors give out, and proclaimed: 'Elon's really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth, I think.' Trump said that the father of (at least) 14 would never desert DOGE completely because 'It's his baby.'
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Donald Trump unaware of Elon Musk's DRUG use
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he was unaware of Elon Musk's alleged drug use, brushing aside reports that the billionaire tech mogul regularly used ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms during his time as a key figure in Trump's administration. Speaking during a surreal farewell ceremony in the Oval Office – where Musk formally stepped down from his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – Trump told reporters: 'I wasn't [aware]. I think Elon is a fantastic guy.' The remark came hours after The New York Times published a bombshell report claiming Musk's heavy drug use had sparked concern among close aides and campaign staff. According to the report, Elon Musk's behaviour – including carrying a pill box on official trips – raised questions about his fitness to serve in a senior advisory role. Despite the mounting allegations, Trump offered no indication that the reported drug use had influenced Musk's departure. Elon Musk, who appeared at the White House event wearing a 'Dogefather' T-shirt and a dark bruise under his right eye, laughed off questions about the injury. He claimed it resulted from playful roughhousing with his five-year-old son, 'Lil X.' When pressed on the drug allegations, Musk dodged the question and instead criticised the press, calling out The New York Times for what he described as 'false reporting' and suggesting the story was politically motivated. The Trump administration downplayed the significance of the drug claims. Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, whose wife reportedly works for Musk, responded dismissively: 'The drugs that we're concerned about are the ones crossing the southern border.' The low-key reaction contrasts with the typically tough-on-drugs rhetoric of Trump's previous administrations. Elon Musk's departure comes amid growing tension within Trump's inner circle over spending and the effectiveness of DOGE, which promised $1 trillion in savings but reportedly delivered far less. Despite stepping down, Musk vowed to remain a close ally. 'I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,' he said. But with scrutiny over his personal conduct mounting, questions remain about how long Musk can maintain his influence in Trump's orbit – or whether the former president was truly in the dark about his top advisor's controversial habits. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Here's how Elon Musk got his BLACK EYE
Billionaire Elon Musk bade farewell to Donald Trump in an extraordinary Oval Office appearance on Friday, sporting a black eye, brushing aside drug abuse claims and vowing to stay a 'friend and advisor' to the US president. As the world's richest person bowed out of his role as Trump's cost-cutter-in-chief, the Republican hailed Musk's 'incredible service' and handed him a golden key to the White House. But Trump insisted that Musk was 'really not leaving' after a turbulent four months in which his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cut tens of thousands of jobs, shuttered whole agencies and slashed foreign aid. 'He's going to be back and forth,' said Trump, showering praise on the tech tycoon for what he called the 'most sweeping and consequential government reform programme in generations.' South Africa-born Musk, wearing a black T-shirt with the word 'Dogefather' in white lettering and a black DOGE baseball cap, said many of the $1 trillion savings he promised would take time to bear fruit. 'I look forward to continuing to be a friend and advisor to the president,' he said. But many people were more interested in the black bruise around Musk's right eye. Speculation about the cause was further fueled by accusations in the New York Times on Friday that Musk used so much of the drug ketamine on the 2024 campaign trail that he developed bladder problems. The SpaceX and Tesla magnate said that his son was to blame for the injury. 'I was just horsing around with lil' X, and I said, 'go ahead punch me in the face,'' 53-year-old Musk said. 'And he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is…' he added, before tailing off. Musk, however, dodged a question about the drug allegations. The New York Times said Musk, the biggest donor to Trump's 2024 election campaign, also took ecstasy and psychoactive mushrooms and traveled with a pill box last year. Musk, who has long railed against the news media and championed his X social media platform as an alternative, took aim at the paper instead. 'Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate?' said Musk, referring to claims that Trump's 2016 election campaign colluded with Moscow. 'Let's move on. Okay. Next question.' Later in the day, when a reporter asked Trump if he was 'aware of Elon Musk's regular drug use,' Trump simply responded: 'I wasn't.' 'I think Elon is a fantastic guy,' he added. The White House had earlier played down the report. 'The drugs that we're concerned about are the drugs running across the southern border' from Mexico, said Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, whose wife works for Musk. Musk has previously admitted to taking ketamine, saying he was prescribed it to treat a 'negative frame of mind' and suggesting his use of drugs benefited his work. The latest in a series of made-for-TV Oval Office events was aimed at putting a positive spin on Musk's departure. Musk is leaving Trump's administration under a cloud, after admitting disillusionment with his role and criticising the Republican president's spending plans. It was a far cry from his first few weeks as Trump's chainsaw-brandishing sidekick. At one time Musk was almost inseparable from Trump, glued to his side on Air Force One, Marine One, in the White House and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The right-wing magnate's DOGE led an ideologically-driven rampage through the federal government, with its young 'tech bros' slashing tens of thousands of jobs. But DOGE's achievements fell far short of Musk's original goal of saving $2 trillion dollars. The White House says DOGE has made $170 billion in savings so far. The independent 'Doge Tracker' site has counted just $12 billion while the Atlantic magazine put it far lower, at $2 billion. Musk's 'move fast and break things' mantra was also at odds with some of his cabinet colleagues, and he said earlier this week that he was 'disappointed' in Trump's planned mega tax and spending bill as it undermined DOGE's cuts. Musk's companies, meanwhile, have suffered. Tesla shareholders called for him to return to work as sales slumped and protests targeted the electric vehicle maker, while SpaceX had a series of fiery rocket failures. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's Black Eye At The White House Has The Internet Buzzing With The Wildest Speculations
Elon Musk has finally wrapped up his 130-day role with the Donald Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, the billionaire raised eyebrows as he appeared at the White House with a black eye, which set tongues wagging. Elon Musk, donning a "Dogefather" shirt, didn't bother to hide the reason for his black eye, but that didn't stop netizens from sharing their opinions about the facial bruise. Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk surprised reporters at the White House on Friday when he appeared at an Oval Office gathering sporting a noticeable black eye, to wrap up his 130-day stint with the Trump administration. "I've got a little shiner here," the Billionaire tech mogul quipped after President Trump fielded a question from Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy about France's first lady allegedly "slapping her husband, Emmanuel Macron." "I wasn't anywhere near France," Musk said with a grin. "I was just horsing around with Little X, and I said, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face,' and he did." He added: "Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face …" Addressing his exit from government service, Musk told reporters this wasn't a goodbye but a new chapter. "This isn't the end of DOGE, "only the beginning," he said, per the New York Post. "The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time." Musk's black eye has since sparked speculation, with several individuals being skeptical that his son was the cause. One person wrote on X, "Gaslighting a 5-year-old. Interesting. And a bruise like that on his eye, it's concerning. Most little [ones] would not be able to hit that hard. I have 4 kids- never had a bruised face by any of them." Another netizen joked that the black eye was caused by either a disgruntled ex-employee or one of Musk's children's mothers, writing, "Someone whose job he took away or his new baby mama." "He took too much ketamine, fell over, smashed his face, and p-ssed his pants," a person remarked. One individual joked that Musk was punched by his son, X, because the toddler had grown tired of being shown off in public. They wrote, "Can you blame the kid for punching him after he's been using the 5-year-old as a prop for his clown show during the DOGE days?" At Friday's farewell event, Musk opted for his signature style, donning a black "Dogefather" shirt and a matching "DOGE" hat, though his energy was more subdued than usual. Reflecting on his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk emphasized the effort required to identify wasteful spending. "It's just a lot of work going through the vast expenses of the federal government and just really asking questions," he said. Despite stepping down from his official role, Musk noted he'll remain available to advise the administration. "I expect to continue to provide advice whenever the president would like advice," he told reporters. "I hope so," Trump responded, before Musk added, "I expect to remain a friend and an adviser, and certainly if there's anything the president wants me to do, I'm at the president's service." Applauding the Tesla CEO's impact during his stint at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Trump said: "Elon is really not leaving. He's going to be back and forth. I think I have a feeling — it's his baby, and I think he's going to be doing a lot of things." The president praised Musk for shaking up outdated government practices, calling his approach a "colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington." "But Elon's service to America has been without comparison in modern history. He's already running one of the most innovative car companies in the world," Trump added. The president marked Musk's departure from federal service with a symbolic gesture, handing him a ceremonial key to the White House as a token of appreciation. "As a presentation from our country. Thank you, Elon. Take care of yourself," he said. As part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk had projected bold ambitions, promising up to $2 trillion in federal budget cuts before President Trump's term officially began. For nearly four months, DOGE staff collaborated closely with teams across federal agencies, axing grants, contracts, and various funding programs. However, by the time Musk stepped down on Wednesday, the department's own website showed a more modest figure: $175 billion in confirmed savings, equating to about $1,087 per American taxpayer. Despite the smaller-than-expected figure, Musk remained optimistic during his Oval Office sendoff, saying he still believes DOGE will ultimately reach its target of saving the federal government a trillion dollars. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confirmed that those reductions would be factored into upcoming congressional appropriations, alongside an additional $1.5 trillion in cuts outlined in Trump's sweeping "One Big Beautiful Bill."
