Tesla CEO Elon Musk listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters within the Oval Workplace of the White Home on Might 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Pictures
President Donald Trump lauded billionaire Elon Musk on Friday because the Tesla CEO wrapped up his time in authorities service after 4 turbulent months main the so-called Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
“This can be his final day, however probably not, as a result of he’ll, all the time, be with us, serving to all the best way,” Trump wrote Thursday on Fact Social, including, “Elon is terrific!”
Nonetheless, Musk stated Sunday that whereas he has been a robust Trump ally, he would not all the time help the administration’s insurance policies.
“I am a little bit caught in a bind,” he stated on CBS’s “Sunday Morning,” “the place I am like, effectively, I do not wish to converse up towards the administration however I additionally do not wish to take duty for the whole lot the administration’s doing.”
DOGE reduce tens of 1000’s of federal jobs throughout the first few months of Trump’s tenure. Musk has defended his authorities document, however acknowledged within the CBS interview that “DOGE turned the whipping boy for the whole lot. So if there was some reduce, actual or imagined, everybody would blame DOGE.”
He is additionally dismayed by the GOP’s multitrillion-dollar tax and spending bundle Congress is at present debating. The laws is projected so as to add trillions of {dollars} to the U.S. debt.
“I used to be disillusioned to see the huge spending invoice, frankly,” he stated, including that it “undermines the work that the DOGE group is doing.”
Regardless of Musk’s issues, Trump officers intend to maneuver his initiatives ahead. Russell Vought, director of the Workplace of Administration and Price range, advised CNN on Sunday the administration will work with Congress and in any other case use “govt instruments” to maneuver ahead with DOGE’s cuts.
Pressed about members of Congress saying that DOGE could have overreached in its efforts to reorganize authorities, Vought stated: “I do not doubt that Congress goes to make accusations. A few of them come by their very own watchdogs, however these watchdogs have been traditionally improper. And that is not going to cease us from transferring ahead to financial institution the DOGE cuts.”
DOGE, which Musk as soon as predicted would reduce trillions of {dollars} in authorities spending, has come nowhere near that degree, in response to its personal numbers, which have come below query.
Musk’s tenure in politics has additionally damage his public picture and soured customers’ views of Tesla, whose vehicles and showrooms turned a goal for arsonists and vandals.
— CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this report.
