Trump offers a ceremonial departure in the Oval Office to Elon Musk, attributing his contributions to significant change

Unveiling the Finale: Elon Musk and the Trump Administration

WASHINGTON D.C. — In the Oval Office, as the sun began to set, President Donald Trump bade adieu to tech mogul, Elon Musk. This marked the end of a turbulent and transformative tenure for the billionaire, who was previously leading the Department of Government Efficiency.

Musk is now set to focus on running his diverse businesses, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X. The President applauded Musk for initiating a "monumental shift" in the traditional way of government affairs, and mentioned that some staff would remain in the administration.

Dressed in all black, including a "The Dogefather" T-shirt, Musk nodded along as the President recounted the contracts that were axed under his leadership. Addressing the media later, Musk expressed his admiration for the "incredible" job the DOGE team was continuing to do.

Musk's reign in the federal bureaucracy left a precipitous mark, resulting in the dismissal or displacement of thousands of employees. Critical government functions, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, previously a lifeline for impoverished individuals globally, were dismantled. Boston University researchers estimate that the loss of aid has already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.

The State Department countered by stating that most of USAID's HIV programs, known as PEPFAR, remained operational. However, the statement did not address the impact of the other cuts. The department urged other nations to enhance their humanitarian efforts.

Despite the turmoil, Musk fell short of achieving his objectives. After pledging to slash $1 trillion or even $2 trillion from federal spending, he scaled down his expectations to only $150 billion in the current fiscal year. The precise savings achieved remain uncertain. The DOGE website reports $175 billion in savings; however, its information has been marred by errors and exaggerations.

Musk revealed a bruise near his right eye during the meeting, attributing it to roughhousing with his son. "I told him to punch me in the face, and he did," he told reporters.

Trump lauded Musk for spearheading the "most comprehensive and influential government reform initiative in generations." The President suggested that Musk would continue to play a significant role, periodically returning to advise the administration.

However, signs indicated that attention was already shifting away from Musk, who once seemed omnipresent in Washington. He was often seen silently standing by Trump during press conferences, answering questions about topics ranging from the French President to the potential pardoning of Sean "Diddy" Combs.

When pressed about the impact of tariffs on Tesla, Trump intervened to answer. Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, recently announced that he would decrease his political donations. Previously, he was Trump's leading donor during the 2020 campaigns.

Trump seemed eager to conclude Musk's service on a high note. "This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, forever, be with us, guiding us," Trump tweeted the night before the farewell. "Elon is extraordinary!"

As a special government employee, Musk's position was intended to be temporary. Musk had speculated about continuing his service indefinitely, working part-time for the administration if Trump desired his continued input. Musk has dismissed concerns about the future of DOGE, suggesting it could gain momentum in the future.

"DOGE is a way of life, like Buddhism," he told reporters recently.

(Associated Press writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report.

Trump offers a ceremonial departure in the Oval Office to Elon Musk, attributing his contributions to significant change