US President Donald Trump (78) has his consultant Elon Musk (53) praised in the highest tones. Tesla-The boss Musk, as head of the authority for state efficiency (Doge), has initiated the “most comprehensive and serious reform program for the government for generations,” Trump said during a joint appearance with Musk in the White House.
Musk saved billions for the government, toasted “colossal changes” and brought many “geniuses” to Washington for Doge, Trump continued. The amount of the sum saved by Musk and his team will continue to rise over time, said Trump. They had shortened wasteful expenses and stopped fraud and abuse. Trump finally presented Musk a golden key to saying goodbye.
Despite his farewell, Musk wants to remain as the official “Freund and Advisor” of the US President. “This is not the end of Doge, but the beginning,” said Musk. The team will become even stronger over time and have more influence, he said. “I assume that I will continue to advise when the president wants to have this advice.” He is available.
Musk wants to take care of his companies again
Musk had stated on Wednesday that his time in the service of the government was “as planned”. According to US rules, his status as a “special government employee” is limited to 130 days. In principle, it was clear that Musk would have to give up the position at the end of May.
However, Musk’s role as a consultant Trump has been greatly reduced for weeks. A good month ago, he announced that from May he would spend less time than Trump’s cost lower in the government apparatus from May. Instead, he will take care of the interests of his companies again, including the electric car manufacturer Tesla he led. Tesla recently had to cope with massive sales declines and burglaries that failed a few days ago the ninth test flight of the giant rocket Starship of his space company SpaceX.
Most recently, Musk had increasingly expressed frustration with his role in the US government and criticism of Trump’s politics. He described Trump’s comprehensive tax reduction project as too expensive. Trump’s close employee Stephen Miller and Susie Wiles saw it an open break by the entrepreneur with the president. However, both were relaxed during the joint appearance on Friday. “Elon won’t go completely,” said Trump. He would return to the White House more often.
The entrepreneur became the face of Trump’s cost reductions in the government apparatus. While Doge, according to his own statements, saves around $ 160 billion, critics describe the number as an eyewash and quantify the savings effect despite mass layoffs of government agents at best to a fraction of the sum. In the election campaign, Musk had spoken of wanting to save costs of two trillion dollars. In the meantime, he still speaks of the goal of saving a trillion dollar.
Musk’s savings measures responsible for children?
Musk has made himself unpopular with his approach to Washington. Another tech billionaire- Microsoft-Founder Bill Gates – even accused him of being responsible for the future death of millions of children in poorer countries. Musk had tended to have thrown the US Development Aid Organization in the “wood chopper” on a weekend.
When he said goodbye, Musk appeared with a clearly recognizable blue eye. However, this has nothing to do with the criticism of his person, says Musk. Rather, his five -year -old son X beamed around. “I only got around with the little one and said: go, hit my face. And he did that too.” Trump asked jokingly and a little amazed: “X was that?” Musk added that he didn’t feel much after the blow, but then the eye had become blue.
Musk had put more than $ 250 million in Trump’s election campaign and had become a confidante of the Republican. At the beginning of Trump’s second term, Musk was often seen next to the president.