President Donald Trump held a weird press convention with Elon Musk within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Friday, ostensibly to wave goodbye to the chief of the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE). However each Trump and Musk basically admitted that the billionaire oligarch wasn’t actually going wherever, not less than in relation to his affect on the federal authorities.
“This isn’t the top of DOGE. That is solely the start,” Musk mentioned, explaining that his time as a Particular Authorities Worker (SGE) was restricted.
SGEs can’t legally work for greater than 130 days in any 365-day interval, and that interval is certainly coming to an finish for Musk. However these guys aren’t precisely recognized for following the foundations, and it looks as if a handy method to decrease Musk’s profile whereas sustaining his affect.
The billionaire has apparently been getting on everyone’s nerves, however Musk’s exit seems to be largely symbolic, on condition that most of the younger males he’s put in all through the federal government are nonetheless of their positions. And President Trump admitted as a lot throughout the press convention.
“Most of the DOGE individuals, Elon, are staying behind too, so that they’re not leaving,” Trump said. “And Elon’s actually not leaving. He’s going to be forwards and backwards.”
Trump gave Musk a golden key in a field, one thing he mentioned he solely offers to “very particular individuals,” and rattled off a listing of issues DOGE had canceled, together with “making mice transgender” and “Arab Sesame Avenue.” Musk has taken credit score for cancelling numerous packages he had no authorized authority to cancel, together with all of USAID.
“I stay up for persevering with to be a good friend and advisor to the president, and I stay up for persevering with to help the DOGE group,” Musk mentioned.
In the course of the press convention, Musk referred to the “banal evil of paperwork,” a dig on the regular capabilities of the federal government that don’t profit him. Musk is a federal contractor, and never a single greenback allotted to his firms has been lower throughout his tenure taking a chainsaw to the federal government. Researchers estimate Musk’s cuts with DOGE have killed not less than 300,000 people all over the world and can kill hundreds of thousands extra within the coming years, as very important public well being providers now go unfunded.
Musk, who began Trump’s second time period by giving two Nazi-style salutes, tried to make jokes when requested questions by reporters and whined incessantly after somebody talked about the New York Instances. Musk made an enormous present of denouncing the newspaper in entrance of Trump, saying they may have to provide again their Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the president’s ties to Russia, one thing he known as the Russia hoax.
Katie Miller, the spouse of Stephen Miller who had been working as a spokesperson for DOGE, was noticed within the room throughout the press convention by a photographer for Getty Photos. Miller is leaving her authorities position to comply with Musk within the personal sector, although it’s not but clear what position she’ll be enjoying at any of his firms. The Millers have an odd relationship with Musk, in response to stories, and folks on social media have joked that it could be sexual in nature, given the way in which Wired journal characterised it back in February.
The official X account for the Democratic Get together even shared a photo of a lodge “cuck chair” whereas quote-tweeting a narrative about Katie Miller on Friday. The account tagged Stephen Miller within the tweet.
Trump additionally rambled Friday about his private grievances and “transgender for everybody,” a phrase he makes use of regularly on Fact Social, although it’s not clear what he means. The Trump regime has persecuted trans individuals in a sadistic marketing campaign that exhibits no signal of ending. Musk can be an anti-trans bigot who claims that phrases like cisgender are slurs.
Musk, who had a black eye, was typically gazing on the ceiling and into the gap, typically rolling his neck in circles and usually appearing very unusually. Requested in regards to the black eye by a reporter, Musk joked that he wasn’t in France, a reference to a viral clip of French President Emmanuel Macron who was lately pushed within the face by his spouse. Musk mentioned that he instructed his 5-year-old son X to punch him within the face.
“I mentioned, go forward, punch me within the face. And he did. Seems even a 5-year-old punching you within the face really does…” Musk mentioned, trailing off. Trump laughed, asking if it was actually X who had carried out that. The Tesla CEO confirmed that’s what occurred with amusing. “However I didn’t actually really feel a lot on the time,” Musk continued. “After which I suppose it bruises up. However I used to be simply horsing round with the youngsters.”
The Day by day Mail reported Friday that Musk had an encounter with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that turned “violent,” citing an interview with Steve Bannon. The article quotes Bannon as saying “Elon mainly shoved him,” referring to the 62-year-old Bessent, although the precise timing of the confrontation wasn’t revealed. It’s not clear if Musk’s black eye might have been a results of the battle, and Bannon doesn’t say Bessent fought again, which looks as if it will have been an necessary a part of the story if that actually was the reason for Musk’s shiner.
The incident and Musk’s odd habits within the Oval Workplace are positive to extend hypothesis about Musk’s purported drug use. The New York Instances revealed a new report on Friday that alleges Musk has been utilizing a lot of illicit medication, together with ketamine, ecstasy, and psychedelic mushrooms. These allegations have been long-standing ever for the reason that Wall Avenue Journal reported that story in early 2024. The true revelation from the NYT appears to be that Musk has been getting advance discover of drug checks, one thing he must do to keep up his safety clearance as a federal contractor for SpaceX.
NASA claimed in 2024 there was “no evidence” of drug use by Musk, however there could be an excellent purpose for the shortage of proof if advance warning was given to the billionaire. Musk has beforehand mentioned he’s prescribed ketamine for melancholy, however the brand new report from the NYT calls into query the dosing and frequency of his use.
Musk’s alleged drug use can be ironic, after all, given the way in which that Trump and his supporters insist the nation is being overrun by medication and drug addicts.
