US President Donald Trump praised Tesla CEO Elon Musk as he completed his final day as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In a post on TruthSocial, Trump confirmed he would hold a press conference on Thursday at 1:30 PM (EST) with Musk at the Oval Office.
Trump Calls Musk “Terrific”
In his social media message, Trump shared kind words for Musk. “This will be his last day, but not really, because he will always be with us, helping all the way. Elon is terrific! See you tomorrow at the White House,” Trump wrote. Although May 30 marked the official end of Musk’s time in office, Trump hinted that Musk would continue to assist informally. Musk’s appointment began in January 2025. He served under a special designation known as “special government employee,” which by law is limited to 130 days.
DOGE’s Claimed Achievements and Controversies
During his tenure, Musk reportedly saved the government $175 million. According to DOGE’s website, these savings came from asset sales, canceling unnecessary contracts, cutting fraud payments, and reducing expenses. However, critics strongly questioned these claims. Some called the figures exaggerated. Others raised concerns over Musk’s influence in government.
Strong Criticism From Lawmakers
Many Democrats openly objected to Musk’s role. During a House Oversight hearing in February, Representative Melanie Stansbury said Musk’s involvement was “reckless and illegal.” She accused Trump of “outsourcing governing to a billionaire who answers to no one.”
Moreover, Representative Jasmine Crockett warned that Musk acted like an “unelected official” inside the executive branch. These criticisms created tension throughout Musk’s time in the government.
Musk Shifts Focus Back to Private Sector
Now that Musk’s term has ended, he is returning to Tesla and SpaceX. According to Bloomberg, Tesla shares rose 4.2 percent this week, likely due to investor optimism. Earlier this month, Musk addressed shareholders in a company call. He said, “Starting in June, I’ll be allocating far more time to Tesla and SpaceX now that the groundwork at DOGE is in place.”