US President Donald Trump on Friday praised Elon Musk as the billionaire businessman resigned as the Chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he had assumed at the start of Trump's 2024 term. The two will address a joint press conference today at 1:30 PM local time(11:00 PM ) from the Oval Office. “Elon is terrific! This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding that Musk’s contributions to the government will have a lasting legacy.

Musk Thanks Trump, Bows Out Amid Protests and Policy Split

Elon Musk, who joined the Trump administration as a Special Government Employee to lead DOGE, said he was grateful for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending across government agencies. “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. The DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government,” Musk stated. His resignation follows widespread demonstrations and a day after he denounced the GOP-authored tax bill. “A bill can be big, or it can be beautiful. But I don’t know if it can be both,” Musk said, hinting that the legislation would harm DOGE's purpose.

DOGE Took Aim At Wasteful Spending?

Established by Trump in January 2025 when he took office, the Department of Government Efficiency, named "DOGE", was a reference to the Dogecoin cryptocurrency frequently prompted by Musk. Charged with reducing bureaucracy, eliminating duplicative spending, and reorienting wasteful government programs, the department got to work. Under Musk's direction, DOGE launched several cost-cutting initiatives, shutdowns of duplicate agencies, and policy changes designed to curtail federal spending.

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Earlier in the week, Musk declared himself back to "spending 24/7 at work," back on the job at Tesla, SpaceX, and other companies. He reported sleeping in conference rooms once more—recalling his notoriously hard-driving work habits. His resignation is also viewed as a step to rebuild investor faith in Tesla, whose stock has suffered in part from backlash against Musk's close identification with Trump and politically charged contributions. Musk was the biggest supporter of Trump's 2024 election campaign, having spent an estimated near 300 million USD. He attended pre-election rallies on a regular basis and became a chief counselor after Trump's return to the White House. Trump himself had even called him a "star is born" during his victory speech.

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