Trump calls Musk ‘terrific’ as he departs DOGE, announces joint presser on Friday

US President Donald Trump lauded Elon Musk on Thursday as the billionaire entrepreneur’s term as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has come to an end. The two will appear together at a press conference scheduled for Friday at 1:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT) in the Oval Office, news agency Reuters reported.

“This will be his last day, but not really, because he will, always, be with us, helping all the way,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Elon is terrific!”

Musk confirmed on Wednesday that he is leaving his post, a move welcomed by Tesla investors after a turbulent year for the company’s stock. The decline was partly attributed to backlash over Musk’s vocal support for Trump and far-right political figures in Europe.

“As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” Musk wrote on X.

“The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” he added.

Musk on Tuesday criticized the price tag of the Republicans’ tax and budget legislation currently progressing through Congress. This comes after he recently vowed to scale back his political spending, following nearly USD 300 million in contributions last year to Trump’s presidential campaign and other Republican candidates.

During a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed gratitude toward Elon Musk, saying,“We thank him for his service. We thank him for getting DOGE off of the ground, and the efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse will continue.”

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