Musk Sidesteps Drug Use Questions as He Resigns from Official Role While Pledging to Advise Trump

WASHINGTON — Billionaire Elon Musk announced on Friday that he will continue to provide advice to President Donald Trump even after resigning from his official role as a special government employee.

During a press conference in the Oval Office, Musk, who had a bruised right eye—an injury he attributes to an encounter with his 5-year-old son—discussed the ongoing efforts of the U.S. DOGE Service. He aims for the organization to achieve at least $1 trillion in federal spending cuts by the middle of next year.

“This is not the end of DOGE, but really the beginning,” Musk stated. He clarified that his tenure as a special government employee had a defined duration of 134 days. “The DOGE team will only grow stronger over time,” he added.

Musk compared his mission to Buddhism, emphasizing that DOGE jobs represent “a way of life” he hopes will permeate the federal government. To date, DOGE initiatives have resulted in approximately $160 billion in spending cuts, but this amount falls short of the $6.8 trillion the federal government expended last fiscal year.

He stressed the commitment to pursue substantial cuts for taxpayers, highlighting a golden eagle design on the Oval Office ceiling. Trump remarked on its significance, stating, “Nobody ever really saw it… Now, they all see it when they come in.” Musk praised Trump’s efforts in enhancing the Oval Office’s presence.

While shifting focus back to his companies—Tesla and SpaceX—Musk expressed his desire to maintain an advisory role. Trump reiterated his hope that Musk will continue to guide him on government-related issues.

The conversation shifted to congressional efforts, with Trump affirming Republican lawmakers’ dedication to making DOGE cuts permanent. He discussed a recently passed tax and spending cuts package, aiming to further reduce government waste. “We want to get our great, big, beautiful bill finished and done,” he stated.

Turning to the Senate, Trump advocated for further tax cuts and revisions to enhance the proposed bill. He expressed aspirations for historic tax reductions while renewing a call to eliminate the debt ceiling, suggesting that this should be addressed collaboratively across the aisle.

Musk declined to address a report from The New York Times regarding allegations of his drug use, including substances like ketamine and ecstasy, focusing instead on his initiatives moving forward.