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SBS Australia
41 minutes ago
- Business
- SBS Australia
Why Elon Musk's White House farewell has people talking
Elon Musk's farewell at the White House, which marked the end of his short tenure as a special government employee, has been overshadowed by a black eye, problems at Tesla, and allegations of drug use. In a press conference with Donald Trump on Friday local time, the United States president praised Musk as "one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced". But it was an unusual briefing, with Musk dodging questions about his appearance, while receiving a present that Trump reserves for only "very special people". Musk told reporters the injury was from his 5-year-old son, after he told the boy: "'Go ahead, punch me in the face.' And he did". Musk also received a large golden key in a box, a gift from Trump acknowledging his "very great talents". So, if things appear amicable between Musk and Trump, why are they parting ways? Musk has not given a specific reason for his departure from the Trump administration. He announced on Wednesday that his "scheduled time" in the Trump administration had come to an end and thanked Trump for "the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending". Meanwhile, his electric vehicle company, Tesla, has been in trouble, with declining sales and stock prices falling 12 per cent this year. Tesla shareholders had written an open letter to Musk, describing the company as in "crisis" and demanding he return to work a standard 40-hour week. During the press conference, Musk was also asked about reports of extensive drug use, which the New York Times claimed involved ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms. The Times reported on Friday that Musk had used these drugs while in office, citing White House insiders and people close to the billionaire. The DOGE leader developed what those sources described to the Times as a serious ketamine habit. Musk dismissed the claims outright, saying it was "fake news". "The New York Times? Is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer prize for false reporting on the Russiagate? "I think it is. That New York Times? Let's move on."
Fox News
an hour ago
- Business
- Fox News
DOGE Father Says Goodbye
After 130 days, Elon Musk says goodbye to the White House– but he leaves behind his DOGE team, his chainsaw, and billions in savings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit Jeffrey Petz
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
How Trump was wracked by a fatal doubt about Elon before his exit
Elon Musk has officially stepped down from his role in Donald Trump 's administration, bringing an end to one of politics' most unconventional partnerships. Musk, 53, joined the Trump administration four months ago to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at increasing governmental efficiency and productivity. Backed by nearly $300 million in political spending to help reelect Trump, Musk was granted sweeping authority to slash federal bureaucracy and reshape government operations. However, behind the scenes, their relationship was riddled with mistrust and miscommunication. 'Was it all bullshit?' Trump reportedly asked, expressing doubt over Musk's pledge to slash $1 trillion in government spending. At first, the relationship appeared strong. Trump regularly praised Musk, calling him '50 percent genius, 50 percent boy' - and at times, '90 percent genius, 10 percent boy,' the Wall Street Journal reported. Musk was a frequent presence at the White House, as the two held long, informal dinners, with the Tesla CEO sometimes confusing Trump with his eccentric humor, according to White House officials. But as Musk began cutting foreign aid, trimming agencies and downsizing the federal workforce, tensions with Trump's inner circle escalated. Musk bypassed top aides, made unilateral decisions, and kept his plans secret - even from the president's chief of staff, Susie Wiles. In addition, Trump's advisers were often blindsided by DOGE's actions, learning about layoffs or data requests through news reports, according to the White House aides. Internal clashes only intensified, prompting Trump to ask Wiles to play a more 'hands-on' role in managing Musk. The SpaceX founder also clashed with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over air traffic controller cuts and Secretary of State Marco Rubio protested after Musk slashed USAID without consultation. He also reportedly resisted White House vetting for DOGE staff and showed preference for advice from close allies like Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, and Katie Miller, his DOGE lieutenant and Stephen's wife. In the spring, Musk publicly attacked Republican Senator Todd Young, calling him a 'deep state puppet' just as Trump was lobbying him to support Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence. Vice President JD Vance eventually had to intervene, urging Musk to delete the inflammatory post, which he did, but the damage had been done. 'White House officials picked up the pieces,' a Trump adviser said. The relationship further frayed when Musk involved himself in a Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Despite warnings from Trump's team that his candidate, Brad Schimel, would lose, Musk insisted polling showed otherwise, and after Schimel's poor town hall and overwhelming loss, Trump distanced himself from the race. Behind the scenes, Musk was also pushing back against Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, calling them dangerous for the global economy. He called business leaders to lobby against them and told advisers Trump was receiving bad advice. Though Trump stood firm on tariffs, Musk grew increasingly irritated - especially after learning Musk received a classified Pentagon briefing on China. It was the most frustrated they'd seen him, two administration officials said, with Trump questioning whether it was a conflict of interest due to Musk's defense contracts. Meanwhile, Musk grew more absent from the White House. Initially present five to seven days a week, his visits dropped to three, then to only occasionally. At a cabinet meeting earlier this spring, Musk shocked officials by venting about how much damage his political role was causing to Tesla. Musk claimed the officials 'had no idea' how much damage was being done to his cars, a witness said. Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly responded saying she would prosecute every criminal they could catch, the Wall Street Journal reported. By May, Trump learned Musk's departure was imminent - but not the exact timing, which was later revealed in a social media post. Musk told aides he needed to 'get some heat off me and my companies,' amid a sharp decline in Tesla profits and setbacks at SpaceX. Despite the turmoil, Trump requested a final 'friendly farewell' meeting in the Oval Office on Friday, with the president claiming, ' Elon is not really leaving. He's going to be back and forth.'
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Shakira cancels World Pride concert over ‘unforeseen circumstances'
One day before the kick-off concert for World Pride 2025 in Washington DC, headlining performer Shakira has abruptly cancelled due to equipment difficulties. Advertisement 'We are deeply disappointed that unforeseen circumstances have forced the cancellation' of the concert, the Capital Pride Alliance, the main World Pride organiser, said in a statement on Friday. 'Updates about the relocated Opening Ceremony programme will be released as soon as they are finalised!' The multiplatinum singer had been scheduled to headline the opening celebrations on Saturday night at Nationals Park in the US capital. The reasons are apparently an extension of equipment issues related to her Thursday night concert in Boston's Fenway Park, which was also cancelled hours before it was set to begin. Advertisement A Friday night concert at Fenway for country star Jason Aldean was also cancelled.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Why did Musk have a black eye at farewell? Billionaire brushes aside drug abuse claims
Billionaire Elon Musk bade farewell to Donald Trump in an extraordinary Oval Office appearance 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-African 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 livid black bruise around Musk's right eye. Speculation about the cause was further fueled by accusations in the New York Times Friday that Musk used so much of the drug ketamine on the 2024 campaign trail that he developed bladder problems. 'Punch me' 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. Watch the video by Reuters here: 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. 'Disappointed' 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.
