President Donald Trump bid farewell to Elon Musk in the Oval Office on Friday, providing a cordial conclusion to a tumultuous tenure for the billionaire entrepreneur.
Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, and he'll be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric automaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X.
Musk is leaving his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, and he'll be rededicating himself to running his businesses, including electric automaker Tesla, rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X.
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00:00Today, it's about a man named Elon, and he's one of the greatest business leaders and innovators the world has ever produced.
00:08He stepped forward to put his very great talents into the service of our nation, and we appreciate it.
00:16And I just want to say that Elon has worked tirelessly helping lead the most sweeping and consequential government reform program in generations.
00:24And you know the kinds of things that he's found and his people have found.
00:29He's brought a group of very smart people in, and they found things that are pretty unbelievable.
00:35And I gave a little special something we have here.
00:38A very special that I give to very special people.
00:43I have given it to some, but it goes to very special people, and I thought I'd give it to Elon as a presentation from our country.
00:53Thank you, Elon.
00:54Take care of yourself.
00:55I've always said perhaps a few words that this is not the end of Doge, but really the beginning.
01:05My time as a special government employee necessarily had to end.
01:08It was a limited time thing.
01:09It's 134 days, I believe, which ends in a few days.
01:12So, so that, you know, it comes with a time limit.
01:17And, but the Doge team will only grow stronger over time.
01:21The Doge influence will only grow stronger.
01:23It's, I liken it to sort of Buddhism.
01:26It's like a way of life.
01:27So, it is permeating throughout the government, and I'm confident that over time we'll see a trillion dollars of savings and a reduction in, a trillion dollars of waste of fraud reduction.
01:39And I'll be, and I'll continue to be visiting here and be a friend and advisor to the president.
01:46And I look forward to, you know, Times being back in this amazing room.
01:49There is a New York Times report today that accuses you of blurring the line between.
01:54Is the New York Times, is that the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on the Russiagate?
02:04Is it the same organization?
02:05Yeah, I think it is.
02:07I think it is.
02:08It is.
02:09I think the judge just ruled against the New York Times for their lies about the Russiagate hoax, and that they might have to give back that Pulitzer Prize.
02:19That New York Times, let's move on.
02:21Okay.
02:21Next question.
02:22So, do you expect to continue advising the president and Doge informally, or are you going to sort of shift your focus entirely to your companies?
02:33Well, I expect to continue to provide advice whenever the president would like.
02:37I hope so.
02:39I mean, yeah, I expect to remain a friend and an advisor, and certainly if there's anything the president wants me to do, I'm at the president's office.
02:51Is your eye okay?
02:53What happened to your eye?
02:54I noticed there was a bruise there.
02:55Well, it wasn't anywhere near France.
02:58So, but.
03:03What does that mean?
03:05I didn't notice it.
03:06First lady of France.
03:07I was just getting slapped, yeah.
03:08I didn't notice it.
03:09So, yeah, no, I was just horsing around with little X, and I said, go ahead, punch me in the face, and he did.
03:16It turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face, actually, does.
03:19That was X that did?
03:20Yeah.
03:21X could do it.
03:22If you knew X, he could do it.
03:23I saw his mom right now.
03:25But I didn't really feel much at the time, and then I guess it bruises up.
03:29But I was just horsing around with the kid.
03:30I didn't notice it, actually.
03:32Yeah.
03:32No, I didn't notice it.
03:32Okay.
03:33Oh.