President Donald Trump has finally responded to rumors that Elon Musk could be stepping down from DOGE.
Following Trump's inauguration on January 19, it seems like something new is shaking the political landscape every day. From his right-hand man Elon Musk turning the White House front lawn into a Tesla showroom to Trump rocking the stock market with brutal tariffs. This week, rumors have been circulating that it could be the end of Musk's White House reign, though the Tesla billionaire himself has refuted this on X. And now, Trump has finally responded to the claims.
Musk took on his role as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) earlier this year but rumors have been circulating that this could soon come to an end.
This arose when it was alleged that Trump had been discussing Musk ‘stepping back’ from his role in government with his confidantes.
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A report from Politico claimed that ‘three Trump insiders’ had revealed that while the president is happy with the work Musk has done with DOGE, ‘in recent days’ both of the men had decided it would soon be time for him to leave.
While Musk is not an elected official, the White House described his role as a ‘senior advisor’ to Trump back in February.
Elsewhere, the Tesla boss has been described as a special government employee (SGE).
Musk’s position has since been clarified as an SGE, and an SGE’s work within the government is not allowed to exceed 130 days.
Elon Musk is expected to leave his position as a special government employee (SGE) acting as the head of the Department of Efficiency (DOGE) by around 30 May.
And Trump has since addressed his departure, telling reporters while aboard Air Force One, as quoted by the Post: “I want Elon to stay as long as possible.”
Trump was even so kind to Musk as to sum it up in three points just why he likes him so much.
The POTUS continued: “Number one: I like him. Number two: He’s doing a great job. Number three: He is a patriot.”
Trump doubled down adding there's ‘no rush’ but ultimately there ‘will be a point in time’ when Musk has to go, noting it’s not like he doesn’t have ‘a number of companies to run’ and get back to properly anyway.
Indeed, Musk has Tesla to get back to, and the issue of how Trump’s tariffs could impact his business.
Trump unveiled a 25 percent tariff on imports of ‘automobiles and certain automobile parts’.
Musk wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter: “Important to note that Tesla is NOT unscathed here. The tariff impact on Tesla is still significant.”
Tesla also wrote a letter to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that some of its vehicle parts are ‘difficult or impossible’ to source locally, and as at least 20 to 25% of Tesla parts are imported from other countries.