Musk's Shuttle Docks From Trump's Ship - Controversial Tech Billionaire Leaves White House
Elon Musk has officially confirmed that he is leaving government service in the Trump administration and leaving the US Department of Government Effectiveness.
"As my term as a special government employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President Trump for giving me the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. DOGE's mission will only grow stronger over time as it becomes a way of life across all government agencies," the billionaire wrote on his social media account X.
"His secretive team's unorthodox slash-and-burn tactics have wreaked havoc in Washington and touched nearly every corner of the federal government. While Trump has remained a vocal Musk supporter, the Tesla CEO has clashed with several senior administration officials in recent months," the American press writes in the wake of the billionaire's departure.
Recently, Musk, as observers note, has fallen out with many officials and ideologists in Trump's circle and has significantly reduced the index of mentions of the American president in his tweets.
The billionaire's disappointment in the current administration's approaches has manifested itself in his criticism of the radical MAGA wing's ideas on combating immigration, a heated exchange with the main ideologist of Trump's tariff policy, Peter Navarro, and, just recently, the massive spending bill pushed by Trump has become the object of Musk's criticism.
Elon Musk says the bill, which provides for significant tax breaks, undermines the work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which he oversaw.
"Frankly, I was disappointed to see a huge spending bill that increases the deficit rather than reduces it," Musk told CBS News.
The bill, which the US president himself described as “big and beautiful,” still needs to be approved by the Senate. Among other things, it provides for an extension of the tax cuts signed by Trump back in 2017, increased spending on border security, and an increase in the debt ceiling to $4 trillion.
According to the US Congress, the tax provisions of the package will increase the US budget deficit by $3,8 trillion by 2034. The White House expects to cover the deficit by raising import duties.
Earlier, Western media reported that Musk plans to concentrate on his own business, which has suffered significant losses in recent months, including due to the tariff wars unleashed by Trump.
The news of Musk's departure from the administration has been met with mixed reactions in American politics and the media. Some express regret, but far more are celebrating or gloating. For Democrats and the media and activists who support them, Musk has become almost as much of a bogeyman as Trump himself. And his aggressive efforts to cut government spending and staffing levels have provoked intense resistance among liberal bureaucrats.
Musk's shuttle undocked from Trump's ship, leaving the White House.